journal article·2026-02Open access

A Sustainable Adhesive Paradigm: Reversibly Reinforcing, Heat‐Free Bonding with Universal Substrates

Shuang Zhang, Xin Jing, Shilong Wu, Fang Liu, Xiaoyuan Li, Yubin Huang

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 9

Abstract

Abstract Non‐biodegradable adhesives accumulate in ecosystems and contribute to contamination. They even contaminate recyclable materials, reducing the efficiency of recycling processes or rendering them impossible. Transitioning to biodegradable or recyclable adhesives is critical to mitigating these environmental impacts and advancing zero‐waste initiatives. A nacre‐inspired hard‐soft multiphase structure is developed to serve as a heat‐free adhesive system, delivering superior adhesion strength across metal, plastic, and glass substrates. Autonomous reconstruction of physically cross‐linked networks and strain‐induced orientation synergistically achieve up to 120 de‐bonding and re‐bonding cycles with progressive adhesion enhancement. Repeatable bonding with reinforcement instead of strength reduction enables error‐tolerant applications. Unique thermal responsiveness that maintains exceptional adhesion performance under low‐temperature conditions, especially in liquid nitrogen environments, is investigated. The dynamic equilibrium of non‐covalent interactions coupled with hydrolytically sensitive ester bonds permits tunable degradation kinetics through compositional modulation. This design paradigm establishes an eco‐friendly alternative to conventional adhesives, particularly suitable for applications demanding recyclability, environmental compatibility, repeated usability, and operation under ultra‐low temperature conditions.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Polymer composites and self-healing · Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions · Polymer Surface Interaction Studies

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

Affiliations

Faculty of Chemistry Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China

Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Science Changchun 130022 China

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (Silicon Industry) Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology Baotou 014010 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

References (53)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-120919-01225310.1146/annurev-chembioeng-120919-012253 ↗
2. 10.1126/science.ado629210.1126/science.ado6292 ↗
3. 10.1002/adma.20200211810.1002/adma.202002118 ↗
4. 10.1038/s41586-023-06335-710.1038/s41586-023-06335-7 ↗
5. 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c0010010.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00100 ↗
6. 10.1021/jacs.2c0351110.1021/jacs.2c03511 ↗
7. 10.1002/adma.20170464010.1002/adma.201704640 ↗
8. 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.05.03010.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.05.030 ↗
9. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.01.03710.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.01.037 ↗
10. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.01010.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.010 ↗
11. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.05.00310.1016/j.jconrel.2019.05.003 ↗
12. 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.12222510.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122225 ↗
13. 10.1016/S0168-3659(99)00194-710.1016/S0168-3659(99)00194-7 ↗
14. 10.1021/jacs.1c1173710.1021/jacs.1c11737 ↗
15. 10.1126/science.aaw898810.1126/science.aaw8988 ↗
16. 10.1021/jacs.4c0687710.1021/jacs.4c06877 ↗
17. 10.1126/science.aaf899110.1126/science.aaf8991 ↗
18. 10.1002/anie.20190600810.1002/anie.201906008 ↗
19. 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c0079810.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00798 ↗
20. 10.1002/adfm.20190995410.1002/adfm.201909954 ↗
21. 10.1002/adfm.20221506410.1002/adfm.202215064 ↗
22. 10.1002/anie.20200594610.1002/anie.202005946 ↗
23. 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.12031610.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120316 ↗
24. 10.1002/adfm.20240655710.1002/adfm.202406557 ↗
25. 10.3390/ph1503037010.3390/ph15030370 ↗
26. 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c0161110.1021/acs.iecr.4c01611 ↗
27. Seyidoglu T. · J. Appl. Pharm. Sci. · 2021 · 138
28. 10.1021/jacs.9b0267710.1021/jacs.9b02677 ↗
29. 10.1038/s41467-024-49503-710.1038/s41467-024-49503-7 ↗
30. 10.1038/s41563-023-01577-210.1038/s41563-023-01577-2 ↗
31. 10.1126/science.aaf109210.1126/science.aaf1092 ↗
32. 10.1039/D3CS00764B10.1039/D3CS00764B ↗
33. 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2019.02.01210.1016/j.porgcoat.2019.02.012 ↗
34. 10.1016/j.cej.2016.05.02210.1016/j.cej.2016.05.022 ↗
35. 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c0300210.1021/acs.jpcb.4c03002 ↗
36. 10.1021/ma070356w10.1021/ma070356w ↗
37. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b0168010.1021/acs.chemmater.5b01680 ↗
38. 10.1126/science.271.5248.48210.1126/science.271.5248.482 ↗
39. 10.1021/acsnano.3c1116010.1021/acsnano.3c11160 ↗
40. 10.1021/ja400528310.1021/ja4005283 ↗
41. 10.1038/nmat403710.1038/nmat4037 ↗
42. 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b0066410.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00664 ↗
43. 10.1038/s41563-021-01136-710.1038/s41563-021-01136-7 ↗
44. 10.1002/anie.20231891910.1002/anie.202318919 ↗
45. 10.1002/advs.20220318210.1002/advs.202203182 ↗
46. 10.1021/jacs.4c0175810.1021/jacs.4c01758 ↗
47. 10.1002/adma.20230645110.1002/adma.202306451 ↗
48. 10.1038/nmat408910.1038/nmat4089 ↗
49. 10.1021/jacs.9b1335610.1021/jacs.9b13356 ↗
50. 10.3390/nano1112330810.3390/nano11123308 ↗
51. 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b0093210.1021/acs.macromol.9b00932 ↗
52. 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c0061710.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00617 ↗
53. 10.1258/ebm.2010.00925810.1258/ebm.2010.009258 ↗