Preparation of PAA/PAM/MXene/TA hydrogel with antioxidant, healable ability as strain sensor

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 2022-06, Vol.214, p.112482-112482, Article 112482
• Main Authors: Qin, Miao, Yuan, Wenfeng, Zhang, Xiumei, Cheng, Yizhu, Xu, Mengjie, Wei, Yan, Chen, Weiyi, Huang, Di
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant property; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Conductive hydrogel; Electric Conductivity; Humans; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; MXene; Sensor; Tensile Strength; Wearable Electronic Devices
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112482

Conductive hydrogels based on MXene have gained more attention due to the excellent conductive property and biocompatibility. At present, they have great potential in electronic skins, personally healthcare monitoring and human motion sensing. However, MXene are prone to be oxidized due to the abundant hydroxyls, which results in the unstable conductive property of hydrogel. To improve the shortcoming, conductive PAA/PAM/MXene/TA hydrogel was prepared, in which the introduction of TA can prevent MXene from oxidation owing to the great deal of pyrogallol groups. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile strength, toughness and elongation at break of PAA/PAM/MXene/TA hydrogel are 0.251 ± 0.05 MPa, 0.895 ± 0.16 MJ/m3 and 560.82 ± 19.56%, respectively, indicating the hydrogel possess good stretchability. In addition, the MXene and TA were introduced into hydrogel through hydrogen bonds, which endow the hydrogel with good restorability and self-healing property. Resistance variation-strain curves demonstrated that the introduction of MXene endue the hydrogel with appreciable sensing performances. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity assay indicated that the hydrogel has good biocompatibility. In conclusion, PAA/PAM/MXene/TA hydrogel has great potential in flexible wearable sensor field. [Display omitted] •The introduction of TA endows the hydrogel with antioxidant property.•Hydrogen bonds introduced by TA and MXene endue hydrogel with self-healing property.•PAA/PAM/MXene/TA hydrogel possesses good sensing ability as strain sensor.