Journal Home > Volume 16 , Issue 7
Nano Research 2023, 16(7): 10348-10357 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5730-y
Communication | Issue | Published: 06 May 2023

Temperature-sensitive and solvent-resistance hydrogel sensor for ambulatory signal acquisition in “moist/hot environment”

Show Author's Information Xinyu Qu1,3,  Hanjun Sun1,  Xiaolong Kan1,  Bing Lei2,  Jinjun Shao1,  Qian Wang1( ),  Wenjun Wang2,  Zhenhua Ni3( ),  Xiaochen Dong1,4( )
Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing 211816, China
School of Physical Science and Information Technology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
School of Physics and Key Laboratory of MEMS of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
School of Chemistry & Materials Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China
Keywords:
flexible electronics, solvent-resistance, hydrogel sensor, underwater application
Topics:
Nano unitNano device
Cite this article:
Qu X, Sun H, Kan X, et al. Temperature-sensitive and solvent-resistance hydrogel sensor for ambulatory signal acquisition in “moist/hot environment”. Nano Research, 2023, 16(7): 10348-10357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5730-y
Download citation
EndNote(RIS)
BibTeX

539

Views

44

Downloads

Citations

5

Crossref

3

WoS

5

Scopus

0

CSCD

Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

To realize continuously and stably work in a “moist/hot environment”, flexible electronics with excellent humid resistance, anti-swelling, and detection sensitivity are demanding. Herein, a solvent-resistant and temperature-ultrasensitive hydrogel sensor was prepared by combining MXene and quaternized chitosan (QCS) with the binary polymer chain. The strong electrostatic interaction between the QCS chain and the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) network endows the hydrogel stability against solvent erosion, high temperature, and high humidity. The strong dynamic interaction between MXene and polymer matrix significantly improves the mechanical properties and sensing (strain and temperature) sensitivity of the hydrogel. The hydrogel strain sensor exhibits a high gauge factor (5.53), temperature/humidity tolerance (equilibrium swelling ratio of 2.5% at 80 °C), and excellent cycle stability, which could achieve a remote and accurate perception of complex human motion and environment fluctuation under aquatic conditions. Moreover, the hydrogel sensor exhibits impressive thermal response sensitivity (−3.183%/°C), ultra-short response time (< 2.53 s), and a low detection limit (< 0.5 °C) in a wide temperature range, which is applied as an indicator of the body surface and ambient temperature. In short, this study broadens the application scenarios of hydrogels in persistent extreme thermal and wet environments.


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Temperature-sensitive and solvent-resistance hydrogel sensor for ambulatory signal acquisition in “moist/hot environment”

Show Author's information Xinyu Qu1,3, Hanjun Sun1, Xiaolong Kan1, Bing Lei2, Jinjun Shao1, Qian Wang1( ), Wenjun Wang2, Zhenhua Ni3( ), Xiaochen Dong1,4( )
Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing 211816, China
School of Physical Science and Information Technology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
School of Physics and Key Laboratory of MEMS of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
School of Chemistry & Materials Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China

Abstract

To realize continuously and stably work in a “moist/hot environment”, flexible electronics with excellent humid resistance, anti-swelling, and detection sensitivity are demanding. Herein, a solvent-resistant and temperature-ultrasensitive hydrogel sensor was prepared by combining MXene and quaternized chitosan (QCS) with the binary polymer chain. The strong electrostatic interaction between the QCS chain and the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) network endows the hydrogel stability against solvent erosion, high temperature, and high humidity. The strong dynamic interaction between MXene and polymer matrix significantly improves the mechanical properties and sensing (strain and temperature) sensitivity of the hydrogel. The hydrogel strain sensor exhibits a high gauge factor (5.53), temperature/humidity tolerance (equilibrium swelling ratio of 2.5% at 80 °C), and excellent cycle stability, which could achieve a remote and accurate perception of complex human motion and environment fluctuation under aquatic conditions. Moreover, the hydrogel sensor exhibits impressive thermal response sensitivity (−3.183%/°C), ultra-short response time (< 2.53 s), and a low detection limit (< 0.5 °C) in a wide temperature range, which is applied as an indicator of the body surface and ambient temperature. In short, this study broadens the application scenarios of hydrogels in persistent extreme thermal and wet environments.

Keywords: flexible electronics, solvent-resistance, hydrogel sensor, underwater application

References(41)

[1]

Chen, J. S.; Peng, Q. Y.; Peng, X. W.; Zhang, H.; Zeng, H. B. Probing and manipulating noncovalent interactions in functional polymeric systems. Chem. Rev. 2022, 122, 14594–14678.
DOI Google Scholar
[2]

Kuang, X.; Arıcan, M. O.; Zhou, T.; Zhao, X. H.; Zhang, Y. S. Functional tough hydrogels: Design, processing, and biomedical applications. Acc. Chem. Res. 2023, 4, 101–114.
DOI Google Scholar
[3]

Li, Q. S.; Wen, C. Y.; Yang, J.; Zhou, X. C.; Zhu, Y. N.; Zheng, J.; Cheng, G.; Bai, J.; Xu, T.; Ji, J. et al. Zwitterionic biomaterials. Chem. Rev. 2022, 122, 17073–17154.
DOI Google Scholar
[4]

Zheng, S. J.; Li, W. Z.; Ren, Y. Y.; Liu, Z. Y.; Zou, X. Y.; Hu, Y.; Guo, J. N.; Sun, Z.; Yan, F. Moisture-wicking, breathable, and intrinsically antibacterial electronic skin based on dual-gradient poly(ionic liquid) nanofiber membranes. Adv. Mater. 2022, 34, 2106570.
DOI Google Scholar
[5]

Tan, P.; Wang, H. F.; Xiao, F. R.; Lu, X.; Shang, W. H.; Deng, X. B.; Song, H. F.; Xu, Z. Y.; Cao, J. F.; Gan, T. S. et al. Solution-processable, soft, self-adhesive, and conductive polymer composites for soft electronics. Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 358.
DOI Google Scholar
[6]

Li, W. W.; Liu, J.; Wei, J. N.; Yang, Z. Y.; Ren, C. L.; Li, B. X. Recent progress of conductive hydrogel fibers for flexible electronics: Fabrications, applications, and perspectives. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 2213485.
DOI Google Scholar
[7]

Yuk, H.; Wu, J. J.; Zhao, X. H. Hydrogel interfaces for merging humans and machines. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2022, 7, 935–952.
DOI Google Scholar
[8]

Chen, N.; Zhou, Y.; Liu, Y. P.; Mi, Y. Y.; Zhao, S. S.; Yang, W.; Che, S.; Liu, H. C.; Chen, F. J.; Xu, C. et al. Conductive photo-thermal responsive bifunctional hydrogel system with self-actuating and self-monitoring abilities. Nano Res. 2022, 15, 7703–7712.
DOI Google Scholar
[9]

Xiang, H.; Li, X. X.; Wu, B. H.; Sun, S. T.; Wu, P. Y. Highly damping and self-healable ionic elastomer from dynamic phase separation of sticky fluorinated polymers. Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2209581.
DOI Google Scholar
[10]

Qu, X. Y.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, Z. A.; Wang, S. Y.; Ren, Y. F.; Wang, Q.; Shao, J. J.; Wang, W. J.; Dong, X. C. Thermoresponsive lignin-reinforced poly(ionic liquid) hydrogel wireless strain sensor. Research 2021, 2021, 9845482.
DOI Google Scholar
[11]

Luo, Z. H.; Li, W. J.; Yan, J. P.; Sun, J. Roles of ionic liquids in adjusting nature of ionogels: A mini review. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2203988.
DOI Google Scholar
[12]

Wu, J.; Wu, B. H.; Xiong, J. Q.; Sun, S. T.; Wu, P. Y. Entropy-mediated polymer-cluster interactions enable dramatic thermal stiffening hydrogels for mechanoadaptive smart fabrics. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202204960.
DOI Google Scholar
[13]

Qu, X. Y.; Liu, J. Y.; Wang, S. Y.; Shao, J. J.; Wang, Q.; Wang, W. J.; Gan, L.; Zhong, L. P.; Dong, X. C.; Zhao, Y. X. Photothermal regulated multi-perceptive poly(ionic liquids) hydrogel sensor for bioelectronics. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 453, 139785.
DOI Google Scholar
[14]

Dai, X. H.; Long, Y.; Jiang, B.; Guo, W. B.; Sha, W.; Wang, J. W.; Cong, Z. F.; Chen, J. W.; Wang, B. J.; Hu, W. G. Ultra-antifreeze, ultra-stretchable, transparent, and conductive hydrogel for multi-functional flexible electronics as strain sensor and triboelectric nanogenerator. Nano Res. 2022, 15, 5461–5468.
DOI Google Scholar
[15]

Qu, X. Y.; Wang, S. Y.; Zhao, Y.; Huang, H.; Wang, Q.; Shao, J. J.; Wang, W. J.; Dong, X. C. Skin-inspired highly stretchable, tough and adhesive hydrogels for tissue-attached sensor. Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 425, 131523.
DOI Google Scholar
[16]

Zhang, Q.; Chen, Y. J.; Wei, P. D.; Zhong, Y.; Chen, C. J.; Cai, J. Extremely strong and tough chitosan films mediated by unique hydrated chitosan crystal structures. Mater. Today 2021, 51, 27–38.
DOI Google Scholar
[17]

Wei, J. J.; Zheng, Y. F.; Chen, T. A fully hydrophobic ionogel enables highly efficient wearable underwater sensors and communicators. Mater. Horiz. 2021, 8, 2761–2770.
DOI Google Scholar
[18]

Yu, Z. C.; Wu, P. Y. A highly transparent ionogel with strength enhancement ability for robust bonding in an aquatic environment. Mater. Horiz. 2021, 8, 2057–2064.
DOI Google Scholar
[19]

Yu, Z. C.; Wu, P. Y. Water-resistant ionogel electrode with tailorable mechanical properties for aquatic ambulatory physiological signal monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2107226.
DOI Google Scholar
[20]

Han, I. K.; Song, K. I.; Jung, S. M.; Jo, Y.; Kwon, J.; Chung, T.; Yoo, S.; Jang, J.; Kim, Y. T.; Hwang, D. S. et al. Electroconductive, adhesive, non-swelling, and viscoelastic hydrogels for bioelectronics. Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2203431.
DOI Google Scholar
[21]

Yu, X. R.; Qin, W. J.; Li, X. X.; Wang, Y. L.; Gu, C. S.; Chen, J. J.; Yin, S. G. Highly sensitive, weatherability strain and temperature sensors based on AgNPs@CNT composite polyvinyl hydrogel. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10, 15000–15011.
DOI Google Scholar
[22]

Klemm, B.; Lewis, R. W.; Piergentili, I.; Eelkema, R. Temporally programmed polymer-solvent interactions using a chemical reaction network. Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 6242.
DOI Google Scholar
[23]

Wang, Z. B.; Zhou, H. H.; Liu, D.; Chen, X.; Wang, D.; Dai, S.; Chen, F.; Xu, B. B. A structural gel composite enabled robust underwater mechanosensing strategy with high sensitivity. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2201396.
DOI Google Scholar
[24]

Xia, X. J.; Liang, Q. D.; Sun, X. G.; Yu, D. H.; Huang, X. R.; Mugo, S. M.; Chen, W.; Wang, D.; Zhang, Q. Intrinsically electron conductive, antibacterial, and anti-swelling hydrogels as implantable sensors for bioelectronics. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2208024.
DOI Google Scholar
[25]

Ou, Y.; Zhao, T. T.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, G. H.; Dong, L. J. Stretchable solvent-free ionic conductor with self-wrinkling microstructures for ultrasensitive strain sensor. Mater. Horiz. 2022, 9, 1679–1689.
DOI Google Scholar
[26]

Liu, X.; Zhang, Q.; Gao, G. H. Solvent-resistant and nonswellable hydrogel conductor toward mechanical perception in diverse liquid media. ACS Nano 2020, 14, 13709–13717.
DOI Google Scholar
[27]

Miao, Z. Y.; Song, Y.; Dong, Y. J.; Ge, D.; Shui, J. X.; He, X.; Yu, H. Y. Intrinsic conductive cellulose nanofiber induce room-temperature reversible and robust polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for multifunctional self-healable biosensors. Nano Res. 2023, 16, 3156–3167.
DOI Google Scholar
[28]

Ge, G.; Lu, Y.; Qu, X. Y.; Zhao, W.; Ren, Y. F.; Wang, W. J.; Wang, Q.; Huang, W.; Dong, X. C. Muscle-inspired self-healing hydrogels for strain and temperature sensor. ACS Nano 2020, 14, 218–228.
DOI Google Scholar
[29]

Zheng, H. Y.; Chen, M.; Sun, Y. S.; Zuo, B. Q. Self-Healing, Wet-Adhesion silk fibroin conductive hydrogel as a wearable strain sensor for underwater applications. Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 446, 136931.
DOI Google Scholar
[30]

Ma, X. T.; Zhou, X.; Ding, J. J.; Huang, B.; Wang, P. Y.; Zhao, Y.; Mu, Q. Y.; Zhang, S. H.; Ren, C. G.; Xu, W. L. Hydrogels for underwater adhesion: Adhesion mechanism, design strategies and applications. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10, 11823–11853.
DOI Google Scholar
[31]

Xue, Y.; Zhang, J.; Chen, X. M.; Zhang, J. J.; Chen, G. D.; Zhang, K.; Lin, J. S.; Guo, C. F.; Liu, J. Trigger-detachable hydrogel adhesives for bioelectronic interfaces. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2106446.
DOI Google Scholar
[32]

Sun, D.; Feng, Y. F.; Sun, S. C.; Yu, J.; Jia, S. Y.; Dang, C.; Hao, X.; Yang, J.; Ren, W. F.; Sun, R. C. et al. Transparent, self-adhesive, conductive organohydrogels with fast gelation from lignin-based self-catalytic system for extreme environment-resistant triboelectric nanogenerators. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2201335.
DOI Google Scholar
[33]

Zhao, H. N.; Hao, S. W.; Fu, Q. J.; Zhang, X. R.; Meng, L.; Xu, F.; Yang, J. Ultrafast fabrication of lignin-encapsulated silica nanoparticles reinforced conductive hydrogels with high elasticity and self-adhesion for strain sensors. Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 5258–5272.
DOI Google Scholar
[34]

Zhang, S. M.; Wang, X. Inorganic subnanometer nanowire-based organogels: Trends, challenges, and opportunities. ACS Nano 2023, 17, 20–26.
DOI Google Scholar
[35]

Pi, M. H.; Qin, S. H.; Wen, S. H.; Wang, Z. S.; Wang, X. Y.; Li, M.; Lu, H. L.; Meng, Q. D.; Cui, W.; Ran, R. Rapid gelation of tough and anti-swelling hydrogels under mild conditions for underwater communication. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2210188.
DOI Google Scholar
[36]

Cao, Y.; Tan, Y. J.; Li, S.; Lee, W. W.; Guo, H. C.; Cai, Y. Q.; Wang, C.; Tee, B. C. K. Self-healing electronic skins for aquatic environments. Nat. Electron. 2019, 2, 75–82.
DOI Google Scholar
[37]

Dang, C.; Wang, M.; Yu, J.; Chen, Y.; Zhou, S. H.; Feng, X.; Liu, D. T.; Qi, H. S. Transparent, highly stretchable, rehealable, sensing, and fully recyclable ionic conductors fabricated by one-step polymerization based on a small biological molecule. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019, 29, 1902467.
DOI Google Scholar
[38]

Guan, L.; Liu, H.; Ren, X. J.; Wang, T. J.; Zhu, W. H.; Zhao, Y.; Feng, Y. B.; Shen, C.; Zvyagin, A. V.; Fang, L. N. et al. Balloon inspired conductive hydrogel strain sensor for reducing radiation damage in peritumoral organs during brachytherapy. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2112281.
DOI Google Scholar
[39]

Yu, H. P.; Zhu, Y. J. Bioinspired flexible, high-strength, and versatile hydrogel with the fiberboard-and-mortar hierarchically ordered structure. Nano Res. 2021, 14, 3643–3652.
DOI Google Scholar
[40]

Bian, Q. Y.; Fu, L. L.; Li, H. B. Engineering shape memory and morphing protein hydrogels based on protein unfolding and folding. Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 137.
DOI Google Scholar
[41]

Lu, Y.; Qu, X.; Wang, S.; Zhao, Y.; Ren, Y.; Zhao, W.; Wang, Q.; Sun, C.; Wang, W.; Dong, X. Ultradurable, freeze-resistant, and healable MXene-based ionic gels for multi-functional electronic skin. Nano Res. 2022, 15, 4421–4430.
DOI Google Scholar
File
12274_2023_5730_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (977.6 KB)
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 05 March 2023
Revised: 03 April 2023
Accepted: 11 April 2023
Published: 06 May 2023
Issue date: July 2023

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2023

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2020YFA0709900), and “Taishan scholars” construction special fund of Shandong Province.

Return