Multidimensional Biomimetic Construction of Highly Sensitive Wrinkled Gels Based on the Transformation of Multiple Supramolecular Interactions Induced by Dual‐Solvent Strategy

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 34; no. 9
• Main Authors: Zhou, Shuai, Zhang, Yu‐Jia, Zhang, Chen, Yi, Chen‐Xin, Han, Tian‐Hang, Huang, Jian‐Hua, Ding, Lang, Peng, Yang‐Rong, Sun, Tian‐Shu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-02-2024
• Subjects: Alcohols; Bioengineering; Biomimetics; bridge effect; Chemical composition; Cognition; dual‐solvent induction; Ethanol; Friction reduction; Gels; Human motion; Phase separation; Polyacrylamide; Sensitivity enhancement; Sodium alginate; Solvents; supramolecular interactions; Tactile discrimination; tactile perception; wrinkled gel
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202307858

Traditional artificial skin gels often only focuses on a single perspective and overlooks the necessity of multidimensional synergistic design for sensitivity enhancement. To address these problems, the innovative introduction of dual solvents on the surface of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate gel induces to the transformation of supramolecular interactions including ion coordination, crystalline alcohol, and phase separation, synergistically achieving adjustable wrinkle wavelengths (304.2 ± 19.9 to 2393.5 ± 95.9 µm) and modulated chemical compositions with tunable moduli (87.5 ± 3.3 to 157.6 ± 3.7 kPa). This flexible strategy allows the construction of long‐range ordered wrinkled microstructures of three‐dimensional surfaces and complex morphologies. Meanwhile, the bridge effect induced by crystalline alcohols directs the insertion of ethanol molecules into the polymer chains, effectively reducing intramolecular friction. Benefiting from the small wavelength and low modulus dominated by crystalline alcohol, the wrinkled gel exhibits extremely high sensitivity of 164 kPa−1 (<0.5 kPa) and wide detection range (44.3 kPa). The wrinkled gel remains stable high sensitive to detect micro‐ and large stress, tactile perception, and human motion behaviors. This work proposes a new strategy for constructing highly sensitive bioinspired skin from multiple dimensions, showing broad application prospects in the fields of bioengineering and behavioral cognition.
The bridge effect exhibited by dual solvent‐induced crystalline alcohols can effectively reduce the modulus of the hard shell and maintain a long‐range ordered wrinkled surface, synergistically achieving optimal sensitivity and wide detection range. Additionally, it facilitates the anchoring of ethanol within the gel system, leading to reduced intramolecular friction and improved stability.