High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission

Hydrogel sensors show unique advantages in underwater detection, ocean monitoring, and human–computer interaction because of their excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and environmental adaptability. However, due to the water environment, hydrogels will dissolve to a certain ex...

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Main Authors: Qingyun Zheng, Jingyuan Liu, Rongrong Chen, Qi Liu, Jing Yu, Jiahui Zhu, Peili Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1027
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author Qingyun Zheng
Jingyuan Liu
Rongrong Chen
Qi Liu
Jing Yu
Jiahui Zhu
Peili Liu
author_facet Qingyun Zheng
Jingyuan Liu
Rongrong Chen
Qi Liu
Jing Yu
Jiahui Zhu
Peili Liu
author_sort Qingyun Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Hydrogel sensors show unique advantages in underwater detection, ocean monitoring, and human–computer interaction because of their excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and environmental adaptability. However, due to the water environment, hydrogels will dissolve to a certain extent, resulting in insufficient mechanical strength, poor long-term stability, and signal interference. In this paper, a double-network structure was constructed by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly([2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]7 dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide) (PSBMA). The resultant PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel demonstrated notable swelling resistance, a property attributable to the incorporation of non-covalent interactions (electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding) through the addition of phytic acid (PA). The hydrogel exhibited high stretchability (maximum tensile strength up to 304 kPa), high conductivity (5.8 mS/cm), and anti-swelling (only 1.8% swelling occurred after 14 days of immersion in artificial seawater). Assembled as a sensor, it exhibited high strain sensitivity (0.77), a low detection limit (1%), and stable electrical properties after multiple tensile cycles. The utilization of PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel as a wearable sensor shows promise for detecting human joint movements, including those of the fingers, wrists, elbows, and knees. Due to the excellent resistance to swelling, the PVA/PSBMA-PA-based sensors are also suitable for underwater applications, enabling the detection of underwater mannequin motion. This study proposes an uncomplicated and pragmatic methodology for producing hydrogel sensors suitable for use within subaquatic environments, thereby concomitantly broadening the scope of applications for wearable electronic devices.
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spelling doaj-art-805e8a8e37f64d638a2b72ded1e4a81e2025-07-11T14:41:32ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-07-011513102710.3390/nano15131027High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information TransmissionQingyun Zheng0Jingyuan Liu1Rongrong Chen2Qi Liu3Jing Yu4Jiahui Zhu5Peili Liu6Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaHydrogel sensors show unique advantages in underwater detection, ocean monitoring, and human–computer interaction because of their excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and environmental adaptability. However, due to the water environment, hydrogels will dissolve to a certain extent, resulting in insufficient mechanical strength, poor long-term stability, and signal interference. In this paper, a double-network structure was constructed by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly([2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]7 dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide) (PSBMA). The resultant PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel demonstrated notable swelling resistance, a property attributable to the incorporation of non-covalent interactions (electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding) through the addition of phytic acid (PA). The hydrogel exhibited high stretchability (maximum tensile strength up to 304 kPa), high conductivity (5.8 mS/cm), and anti-swelling (only 1.8% swelling occurred after 14 days of immersion in artificial seawater). Assembled as a sensor, it exhibited high strain sensitivity (0.77), a low detection limit (1%), and stable electrical properties after multiple tensile cycles. The utilization of PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel as a wearable sensor shows promise for detecting human joint movements, including those of the fingers, wrists, elbows, and knees. Due to the excellent resistance to swelling, the PVA/PSBMA-PA-based sensors are also suitable for underwater applications, enabling the detection of underwater mannequin motion. This study proposes an uncomplicated and pragmatic methodology for producing hydrogel sensors suitable for use within subaquatic environments, thereby concomitantly broadening the scope of applications for wearable electronic devices.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1027zwitterionhydrogelanti-swelling propertywearable sensor
spellingShingle Qingyun Zheng
Jingyuan Liu
Rongrong Chen
Qi Liu
Jing Yu
Jiahui Zhu
Peili Liu
High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
Nanomaterials
zwitterion
hydrogel
anti-swelling property
wearable sensor
title High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
title_full High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
title_fullStr High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
title_full_unstemmed High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
title_short High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission
title_sort high anti swelling zwitterion based hydrogel with merit stretchability and conductivity for motion detection and information transmission
topic zwitterion
hydrogel
anti-swelling property
wearable sensor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1027
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AT jingyuanliu highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission
AT rongrongchen highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission
AT qiliu highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission
AT jingyu highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission
AT jiahuizhu highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission
AT peililiu highantiswellingzwitterionbasedhydrogelwithmeritstretchabilityandconductivityformotiondetectionandinformationtransmission