Double dynamic bonds tough hydrogel with high self‐healing properties based on acylhydrazone bonds and borate bonds

Abstract

AbstractHydrogels with excellent self‐healing properties have specific applications in smart polymer materials, but they often do not have excellent mechanical properties, or the preparation process of hydrogels is too complicated. Here, we prepared a multi‐functional intelligent hydrogel using a simple water bath one‐pot method through the synergistic effect of dual dynamic cross‐linked agents, including acylhydrazone bonds (the first cross‐linked agent) and borate ester bonds (the second cross‐linked agent), at the same time hydrogen bonds provided physical interaction. The hydrogel exhibited excellent self‐healing ability (up to 91%) and extraordinary mechanical strength (tensile stress 173.1405 kPa and hysteresis energy of 1.8659 MJ m−3). The research used chemical cross‐linked (acylhydrazone bonds and borate ester bonds) and physical cross‐linked (hydrogen bonds). The prepared hydrogel had the dual advantages of excellent self‐healing performance and high mechanical strength. The hydrogel can be used in smart materials, such as working pressure tissues and sensing materials that require a certain degree of mechanical strength and self‐healing properties, and also provides a design strategy for preparing hydrogels with high mechanical strength and excellent self‐healing properties.