DataVXAdvanced MaterialsPaper
journal article·2021-10Open access

Hydrophilicity‐Hydrophobicity Transformation, Thermoresponsive Morphomechanics, and Crack Multifurcation Revealed by AIEgens in Mechanically Strong Hydrogels

Yubing Hu, Lucile Barbier, Zhao Li, Xiaofan Ji, Heiva Le Blay, Dominique Hourdet, Nicolas Sanson, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Alba Marcellan, Ben Zhong Tang

Advanced Materials· Volume 33· Issue 39
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Source abstract

Abstract

Abstract Biomimetic exploration of stimuli‐responsive and crack‐resistant hydrogels is of great academic and practical significance, although the rational design of tough hydrogels is limited by insufficient mechanism study due to the lack of imaging techniques to “see” hydrogels at mesoscale level. A series of composite hydrogels with compartmentalized thermal response is designed by incorporating aggregation‐ and polarity‐sensitive fluorescent probes in a poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) network grafted with poly( N , N ‐dimethylacrylamide) side‐chains. The fluorescence technique is explored as a powerful tool to directly visualize their hydrophilicity‐hydrophobicity transformation and the composition‐dependent microphase separation. Based on the morphological observation and mechanical measurements, the concept of morphomechanics with a comprehensive mechanism clarification is proposed. In this regard, the thermoresponsive toughening is attributed to the formation of multiple noncovalent interactions and the conformational changes of PNIPAM chains. The enhanced fracture energy by crack multifurcation is related to the tearing‐like disruption of weak interfaces between the separated phases.
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Research context

PolymersComposites

OpenAlex topics: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Polymer Surface Interaction Studies

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

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction Institute for Advanced Study The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macro Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

HKUST‐Shenzhen Research Institute No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi‐tech Park Nanshan Shenzhen 518057 China

Soft Matter Sciences and Engineering ESPCI Paris PSL Research University, Sorbonne Universités Laboratoire Sciences et Ingénierie de la Matière Molle CNRS 10 Rue Vauquelin Paris 75005 France

Center for Aggregation‐Induced Emission SCUT‐HKUST Joint Research Institute State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China

AIE institute Guangzhou Development Distinct, Huangpu Guangzhou 510530 China

Funding

Innovation and Technology Commission · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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