journal article·2023-01Open access

Impact‐Resistant Hydrogels by Harnessing 2D Hierarchical Structures

Xiangyu Liang, Guangda Chen, Iek Man Lei, Pei Zhang, Zeyu Wang, Xingmei Chen, Mengze Lu, Jiajun Zhang, Zongbao Wang, Taolin Sun, Yang Lan, Ji Liu

Advanced Materials· Volume 35· Issue 1

Abstract

Abstract 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−1), 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.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Bone Tissue Engineering Materials · Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

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

Institute of Bast Fiber Crops and Center of Southern Economic Crops Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Changsha 410205 China

Ningbo Key Laboratory of Specialty Polymers Faculty of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Ningbo University Ningbo 315211 China

South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510641 China

Department of Chemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 7JE UK

Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robotics and Intelligent Systems Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 China

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human‐Augmentation and Rehabilitation Robotics in Universities Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 China

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province · Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality

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