3D architected temperature-tolerant organohydrogels with ultra-tunable energy absorption

• Published in: iScience 2021-07, Vol.24 (7), p.102789-102789, Article 102789
• Main Authors: Surjadi, James Utama, Zhou, Yongsen, Wang, Tianyu, Yang, Yong, Kai, Ji-jung, Lu, Yang, Wang, Zuankai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: mechanical property; metamaterials; soft matter
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102789

The properties of mechanical metamaterials such as strength and energy absorption are often “locked” upon being manufactured. While there have been attempts to achieve tunable mechanical properties, state-of-the-art approaches still cannot achieve high strength/energy absorption with versatile tunability simultaneously. Herein, we fabricate for the first time, 3D architected organohydrogels with specific energy absorption that is readily tunable in an unprecedented range up to 5 × 103 (from 0.0035 to 18.5 J g−1) by leveraging on the energy dissipation induced by the synergistic combination of hydrogen bonding and metal coordination. The 3D architected organohydrogels also possess anti-freezing and non-drying properties facilitated by the hydrogen bonding between ethylene glycol and water. In a broader perspective, this work demonstrates a new type of architected metamaterials with the ability to produce a large range of mechanical properties using only a single material system, pushing forward the applications of mechanical metamaterials to broader possibilities. [Display omitted] •The first fabrication of 3D architected organohydrogels by Digital Light Processing•Two-step toughening effect of organohydrogels by metal coordination and hydrogen bonding•3D structures achieved ultra-tunable range of specific energy absorption up to 5000 x•3D architected organohydrogels were demonstrated as tunable impact attenuators Soft matter; Mechanical property; Metamaterials