Mussel-Inspired Flexible, Wearable, and Self-Adhesive Conductive Hydrogels for Strain Sensors.

The latest generation of wearable devices features materials that are flexible, conductive, and stretchable, thus meeting the requirements of stability and reliability. However, the metal conductors that are currently used in various equipments cannot achieve these high performance expectations. Hence, a mussel-inspired conductive hydrogel (HAC-B-PAM) is prepared with a facile approach by employing polyacrylamide (PAM), dopamine-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HAC), borax as a dynamic cross-linker agent, and Li+ and Na+ as conductive ions. HAC-B-PAM hydrogels demonstrate an excellent stretchability (up to 2800%), high tensile toughness (42.4 kPa), self-adhesive properties (adhesion strength to porcine skin of 49.6 kPa), and good self-healing properties without any stimuli at room temperature. Furthermore, the fabricated hydrogel-based strain sensor is sensitive to deformation and can detect human body motion. Multifunctional hydrogels can be assembled into flexible wearable devices with potential applications in the field of electronic skin and soft robotics.

One-step preparation of polyimide-inlaid amine-rich porous organic block copolymer for efficient removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution.

A novel polyimide-inlaid amine-rich porous organic block copolymer (PI-b-ARPOP) was prepared via one-step polymerization by using different molar ratios of melamine (MA)/terephthalaldehyde (TA)/pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), at molar ratios of 4/3/1, 4/2/2 and 4/1/3. The copolymer contained both aminal groups belonging to ARPOP and imide groups belonging to PI, and the bonding styles of the monomers and growth orientations of the polymeric chains were diversiform, forming an excellent porous structure. Notably, MA/TA/PMDA (4/2/2) had a surface area and pore volume of 487.27 m2/g and 1.169 cm3/g, respectively. The adsorption performance of the materials towards 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in ultra-pure water was systematically studied. The pH value of 7 was optimal in aqueous solution. Na+ and Cl- ions did not negatively affect the adsorption process, while humic acid (HA) slightly decreased the capacity. The equilibrium time was 40 sec, and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 282.49 mg/g at 298 K. The removal process was endothermic and spontaneous, and the copolymer could maintain its porous structure and consistent performance after regeneration by treatment with alkali. Moreover, to further assess the practical applicability of the material, the adsorption performance towards 2,4-DCP in river water was also investigated. This paper demonstrated that the PI-b-ARPOP can be an efficient and practical adsorbent to remove chlorophenols from aqueous solution.