Biocomposite Polyvinyl Alcohol/Ferritin Hydrogels with Enhanced Stretchability and Conductivity for Flexible Strain Sensors
Protein-based hydrogels with stretchability and conductivity have potential applications in wearable electronic devices. However, the development of protein-based biocomposite hydrogels is still limited. In this work, we used natural ferritin to develop a PVA/ferritin biocomposite hydrogel by a repe...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Gels |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/59 |
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| Summary: | Protein-based hydrogels with stretchability and conductivity have potential applications in wearable electronic devices. However, the development of protein-based biocomposite hydrogels is still limited. In this work, we used natural ferritin to develop a PVA/ferritin biocomposite hydrogel by a repetitive freeze–thaw method. In this biocomposite hydrogel, ferritin, as a nano spring, forms a hydrogen bond with the PVA networks, which reduces the crystallinity of PVA and significantly improves the stretchability of the hydrogel. The fracture strain of the PVA/ferritin hydrogel is 203%, and the fracture stress is 112.2 kPa. The fracture toughness of the PVA/ferritin hydrogel is significantly enhanced to 147.03 kJ/m<sup>3</sup>, more than 3 times that of the PVA hydrogel (39.17 kJ/m<sup>3</sup>). In addition, the free residues and iron ions of ferritin endow the biocomposite hydrogel with enhanced ionic conductivity (0.15 S/m). The strain sensor constructed from this hydrogel shows good sensitivity (gauge factor = 1.7 at 150% strain), accurate real-time resistance response, and good long cyclic working stability when used for joint motion monitoring. The results indicate that a PVA/ferritin biocomposite hydrogel prepared by a facile method has enhanced stretchability and conductivity for flexible strain sensors. This work develops a new method for the preparation of protein-based hydrogels for wearable electronic devices. |
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| ISSN: | 2310-2861 |