Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Energy Materials Chemistry of Ministry of Education & Hubei Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science Hubei R&D Center of Hyperbranched Polymers Synthesis and Applications South-Central Minzu University Wuhan 430074 P. R. China
2. Polymer Synthesis Laboratory Chemical Science Program KAUST Catalysis Center Physical Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal 23955 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abstract
AbstractThe application of hydrogels often suffers from their inherent limitation of poor mechanical properties. Here, a carboxyl‐functionalized and acryloyl‐terminated hyperbranched polycaprolactone (PCL) was synthesized and used as a macro‐cross‐linker to fabricate a super strong and ultra‐tough ionic hydrogel. The terminal acryloyl groups of hyperbranched PCL are chemically incorporated into the network to form covalent cross‐links, which contribute to robust networks. Meanwhile, the hydrophobic domains formed by the spontaneous aggregation of PCL chains and coordination bonds between Fe3+ and COO− groups serve as dynamic non‐covalent cross‐links, which enhance the energy dissipation ability. Especially, the influence of the hyperbranched topological structure of PCL on hydrogel properties has been well investigated, exhibiting superior strengthening and toughening effects compared to the linear one. Moreover, the hyperbranched PCL cross‐linker also endowed the ionic hydrogel with higher sensitivity than the linear one when used as a strain sensor. As a result, this well‐designed ionic hydrogel possesses high mechanical strength, superior toughness, and well ionic conductivity, exhibiting potential applications in the field of flexible strain sensors.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province
Subject
General Chemistry,Catalysis
Cited by
17 articles.
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