An Easy-to-Prepare Conductive Hydrogel for Smart Wearable Materials Based on Acrylic Derivatives and Acrylamide

Abstract

Electrically conductive hydrogel materials can be used as materials for wearable sensors, which can quickly and accurately detect the activities of human joints and convert these movements into electrical signals. More specifically, they have potential for application in wearable electronic devices and electronic skins. However, a number of challenges remain regarding the preparation of conductive hydrogel materials. In this study, we synthesized the P(BHMP-AM)-Zn2+ hydrogel material in situ via a one-pot method using acrylic monomer derivatives, acrylamide, and zinc ions. The resulting hydrogel exhibited a high cytocompatibility (89%), excellent cyclic tensile properties, satisfactory adhesion properties (3.4 kPa), and good electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the addition of Zn2+ ions imparted antibacterial properties to the hydrogel, with sterilization rates of 65.9 and 10.9% being determined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The hydrogel was able to sense the activities of joints or other parts of the human body when attached to the skin, converting these movements into electrical signals to allow the real-time monitoring of motion. This conductive hydrogel material, therefore, exhibits potential for use in wearable electronic devices and electronic skins, among other devices.