Chen Lili, Jin Zhekai, Feng Wenwen, Sun Lin, Xu Hao, Wang Chao
Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Science. 2024 Mar 29;383(6690):1455-1461. doi: 10.1126/science.adh3632. Epub 2024 Mar 28.
Hyperelastic materials exhibit a nonlinear elastic response to large strains, whereas hydrogels typically possess a low elastic range due to the nonuniform cross-linking and limited chain segments among cross-links. We developed a hyperelastic hydrogel that possesses a broader elastic range by introducing a reversible pearl-necklace structure, in which beads are connected by strings. The subnanometric beads can efficiently unfold and refold under cyclic mechanical strains; thus, the hydrogel can rapidly recover after being stretched to an areal strain of more than 10,000%. Additionally, the hydrogel can quickly heal from minor mechanical damages such as needle punctures and cuts. These advancements make our ionic hydrogels ideal for multifunctional pneumatic gripper materials; they simultaneously offer an ultralarge gripping range, self-sensing capabilities, and fast healing abilities.
超弹性材料在大应变下表现出非线性弹性响应，而水凝胶由于交联不均匀和交联之间链段有限，通常具有较低的弹性范围。我们通过引入一种可逆的珍珠项链结构开发了一种具有更宽弹性范围的超弹性水凝胶，其中珠子由线连接。亚纳米级的珠子在循环机械应变下可以有效地展开和重新折叠；因此，这种水凝胶在被拉伸至超过10000%的面应变后能够快速恢复。此外，这种水凝胶能够从诸如针刺和切割等轻微机械损伤中快速愈合。这些进展使我们的离子水凝胶成为多功能气动夹具材料的理想选择；它们同时提供超大的夹持范围、自感应能力和快速愈合能力。
