Microfluidic-Based Continuous Fabrication of Ultrathin Hydrogel Films with Controllable Thickness

Author:

Ouyang Xiaozhi1,Huang Cheng1,Cheng Sha1,Zhang Pengchao123ORCID,Chen Wen1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

2. Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Wuhan University of Technology Xiangyang Demonstration Zone, Xiangyang 441000, China

3. Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya 572024, China

Abstract

Ultrathin hydrogel films composed of cross-linked polymer networks swollen by water, with soft and moisturized features similar to biological tissue, play a vital role in flexible biosensors and wearable electronics. However, achieving efficient and continuous fabrication of such films remains a challenge. Here, we present a microfluidic-based strategy for the continuous fabrication of free-standing ultrathin hydrogel films by using laminar flow, which can be precisely controlled in the micrometer scale. Compared with conventional methods, the microfluidic-based method shows advantages in producing hydrogel films with a high homogeneity as well as maintaining the structural integrity, without the need of supporting substrates and sophisticated equipment. This strategy allows the precise control over the thickness of the hydrogel films ranging from 15 ± 0.2 to 39 ± 0.5 μm, by adjusting the height of the microfluidic channels, with predictable opportunities for scaling up. Therefore, our strategy provides a facile route to produce advanced thin polymer films in a universal, steerable, and scalable manner and will promote the applications of thin polymer films in biosensors and wearable electronics.

Funder

National Key Research and Development Program of China

National Natural Science Foundation of China

Independent Innovation Projects of the Hubei Longzhong Laboratory

Open Fund of Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park of Wuhan University of Technology

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Polymers and Plastics,General Chemistry

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