journal article·2026-02Open access

Polyzwitterionic Organohydrogel and Soft Composite with Tunable Sol–Gel Properties Enabling On‐Demand Functionalization with Colloids

Ziyue Miao, Xiaodan Hong, Olli Ikkala, Zhong‐Peng Lv, Bo Peng

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 12

Abstract

Abstract While zwitterionic hydrogels and aq. polymers have already been used in, e.g., bio‐related, environmental, and ionic transport‐related applications, it is foreseen that their characteristic ability of zwitterions to bind functional particles combined with sol–gel transitions can allow emerging potential for responsive soft composites. Here, it is first shown that polyzwitterionic poly[2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (PDMAPS), allows organohydrogelation upon adding dimethyl sulfoxide to its aqueous solution, inducing phase‐separations to form physical cross‐links. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals solvent–polymer interactions that drive the organohydragelation. The organohydrogels exhibit ultrahigh stretchability (>2800%), quick self‐adhesion, remoldability, and tunable viscoelasticity. By modulating solvent composition and integrating functional fillers, distinct sol‐ and gel‐like states are achieved on‐demand. In the sol‐like state, titanium carbide nanosheets (MXenes)‐incorporated PDMAPS soft composite enable mechano‐tunable electromagnetic interference shielding via nanosheet reorientation under strain. In the gel‐like regime, incorporation of magneticneodymium iron boron magnet (NdFeB) microparticles yields mechano–magneto–electric transducers for strain detection, dynamic haptic functionality, as demonstrated by Morse code encoding, and high durability in repeated compressive cycles. This work introduces a versatile organohydrogel platform with tunable viscoelastic properties, suitable for on‐demand functionalized soft composites, suggesting new design principles for transducing, sensing, and soft robotics.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · Advanced Materials and Mechanics · Polymer composites and self-healing

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

Affiliations

College of Smart Materials and Future Energy State Key Laboratory of Coatings for Advanced Equipment and Advanced Coating Research Center of Ministry of Education of China Fudan University Shanghai 200433 China

Department of Applied Physics Aalto University Aalto Espoo FI‐00076 Finland

Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China

Funding

China Scholarship Council · Research Council of Finland · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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