Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels

Ningxin Chen; Jie Deng; Shanchen Yang; Kunkun Guo; Sida Xie; Jinwei Song; Ji Liu; Zhaohui Wang

doi:10.59717/j.xinn-mater.2024.100101

The Innovation Materials > 2024 Vol. 2 > No. 4 > 100101

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Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels

1.
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
2.
Zhejiang Fulai New Materials Co., Ltd, Jiashan 314100, China
3.
Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

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Corresponding authors: sunnywang@hnu.edu.cn (Z. W); kunkunguo@hnu.edu.cn (K. G); liuj9@sustech.edu.cn (J. L)
Received Date: May 23, 2024

Accepted Date: October 10, 2024

Published Online: October 16, 2024

The Innovation Materials 2(4), https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-mater.2024.100101 | Cite this article

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PUBLIC SUMMARY

PUBLIC SUMMARY
1. An integrated solvent exchange and dry annealing approach to prepare polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels.
  
  Toughening hydrogel with uniformly distributed, large, and densely crosslinked crystalline domains.
  
  Achieved an ultrahigh tensile strength of 34.15 MPa and a toughness of 95.21 MJ m^–3.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Current hydrogel fabrication techniques often fall short of simultaneously optimizing key structural parameters, such as network uniformity, crosslinking density, and crystalline domain size, essential for achieving superior mechanical performance. Herein, we introduce a solvent exchange coupled dry-annealing technique, revolutionizing the synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels. This strategy seamlessly integrates the uniformity afforded by solvent exchange with the benefits of anisotropic densification and crystallization induced by dry annealing, thereby transforming the microstructural configuration of polymer networks, achieving unprecedented uniformity, along with adjustable crystalline domains density and size. Consequently, the resulting PVA hydrogels feature a robust, highly organized network with densely packed, and large crystalline domains. These hydrogels exhibit extraordinary mechanical strength with stress levels reaching 34.15 MPa and toughness (up to 95.21 MJ m^-3) , supplemented by a fracture energy of 99.2 kJ m^-2, significantly outperforming traditional hydrogels. Further enhancement of mechanical properties was achieved through a salting-out process, boosting strength to 52.5 MPa and toughness to 167.9 MJ m^-3. This advancement not only ushers in a new era of hydrogel technology but also opens avenues for creating advanced hydrogels with tailored mechanical properties for a variety of sophisticated applications.
- Hydrogel /
- Mechanical properties /
- Crystalline domain /
- Solvent exchange /
- Dry annealing

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Chen N., Deng J., Yang S., et al., (2024). Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels. The Innovation Materials 2(4): 100101. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-mater.2024.100101

Chen N., Deng J., Yang S., et al., (2024). Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels. The Innovation Materials 2(4): 100101. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-mater.2024.100101

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Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels

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Large crystalline domains homogenization via solvent exchange-coupled dry annealing for ultrastrong and ultratough hydrogels

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