| Authors |
Yang, PC; Bai, JW; Olivieri, F; Santillo, C; Castaldo, R; Gentile, G; Zhang, JH; Lavorgna, M; Buonocore, GG |
| Abstract |
Conductive hydrogels exhibit significant potential for flexible electronics owing to their exceptional flexibility, resistance to deformation, and high conductivity. However, there is a critical need to develop hydrogels that can withstand extremely low temperatures while exhibiting good mechanical properties. In this study, carboxyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the gel matrix, dimethylsulfoxide and water as a mixed solvent solution, and graphene oxide (GO) assembled polypyrrole (PPy) nanowires are used to prepare a new type of antifreeze conductive organohydrogel (PGOPPy). The PGOPPy organohydrogel demonstrates outstanding antifreeze properties, retaining its flexibility at temperatures as low as -75 degrees C. It exhibits a fracture strength of 0.80 MPa and an elongation at break of 436% at room temperature. Remarkably, after being stored at room temperature for 15 days, the diameter of the PGOPPy organohydrogel changes only by 4%. Moreover, PGOPPy shows high electrical conductivity, up to 1.07 S m-1, and exhibits variable conductivity in response to mechanical deformation, with a stable response over cyclic deformations, allowing its use as a sensor to monitor body movements. Results demonstrate that the developed material is very promising as an effective sensor technology for use in extremely cold environments. Moreover, this work provides a general method for preparing antifreeze organhydrogels using water and dimethylsulfoxide as mixed solvents. New organohydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol/water/dimethylsulfoxide and containing polypyrrole nanowires-modified graphene oxide show antifreeze properties, retaining their flexibility at temperatures as low as -75 degrees C, and display high electrical conductivity and stable electrical response to cyclic deformation, allowing their application as movement sensors in extremely cold environments. image |
