Self-Standing 3D-Printed PEGDA–PANIs Electroconductive Hydrogel Composites for pH Monitoring

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing processes, is introducing new possibilities in electronic, biomedical, sensor-designing, and wearable technologies. In this context, the present work focuses on the development of flexible 3D-printed polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)- sulfonated polyaniline (PANIs) electrically conductive hydrogels (ECHs) for pH-monitoring applications. PEGDA platforms are 3D printed by a stereolithography (SLA) approach. Here, we report the successful realization of PEGDA–PANIs electroconductive hydrogel (ECH) composites produced by an in situ chemical oxidative co-polymerization of aniline (ANI) and aniline 2-sulfonic acid (ANIs) monomers at a 1:1 equimolar ratio in acidic medium. The morphological and functional properties of PEGDA–PANIs are compared to those of PEGDA–PANI composites by coupling SEM, swelling degree, I–V, and electro–chemo–mechanical analyses. The differences are discussed as a function of morphological, structural, and charge transfer/transport properties of the respective PANIs and PANI filler. Our investigation showed that the electrochemical activity of PANIs allows for the exploitation of the PEGDA–PANIs composite as an electrode material for pH monitoring in a linear range compatible with that of most biofluids. This feature, combined with the superior electromechanical behavior, swelling capacity, and water retention properties, makes PEGDA–PANIs hydrogel a promising active material for developing advanced biomedical, soft tissue, and biocompatible electronic applications.