Liang Xiangyu, Chen Guangda, Lei Iek Man, Zhang Pei, Wang Zeyu, Chen Xingmei, Lu Mengze, Zhang Jiajun, Wang Zongbao, Sun Taolin, Lan Yang, Liu Ji
Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
Adv Mater. 2023 Jan;35(1):e2207587. doi: 10.1002/adma.202207587. Epub 2022 Nov 17.
With the strengthening capacity through harnessing multi-length-scale structural hierarchy, synthetic hydrogels hold tremendous promise as a low-cost and abundant material for applications demanding unprecedented mechanical robustness. However, integrating high impact resistance and high water content, yet superior softness, in a single hydrogel material still remains a grand challenge. Here, a simple, yet effective, strategy involving bidirectional freeze-casting and compression-annealing is reported, leading to a hierarchically structured hydrogel material. Rational engineering of the distinct 2D lamellar structures, well-defined nanocrystalline domains and robust interfacial interaction among the lamellae, synergistically contributes to a record-high ballistic energy absorption capability (i.e., 2.1 kJ m ), without sacrificing their high water content (i.e., 85 wt%) and superior softness. Together with its low-cost and extraordinary energy dissipation capacity, the hydrogel materials present a durable alternative to conventional hydrogel materials for armor-like protection circumstances.
通过利用多长度尺度的结构层次来增强性能，合成水凝胶作为一种低成本且丰富的材料，在需要前所未有的机械强度的应用中具有巨大潜力。然而，在单一水凝胶材料中同时集成高抗冲击性、高含水量以及卓越的柔软性，仍然是一个巨大的挑战。在此，报道了一种简单而有效的策略，即双向冷冻铸造和压缩退火，从而得到一种具有层次结构的水凝胶材料。对独特的二维层状结构、明确的纳米晶域以及层片之间强大的界面相互作用进行合理设计，协同作用使得该材料具有创纪录的高弹道能量吸收能力（即2.1 kJ/m），同时不牺牲其高含水量（即85 wt%）和卓越的柔软性。连同其低成本和非凡的能量耗散能力，这种水凝胶材料为装甲防护等情况提供了一种耐用的传统水凝胶材料替代品。
