Self‐Healable, Self‐Adhesive Conductive Hydrogels Based on Integrated Multiple Interactions for Wearable Sensing

Abstract

AbstractWith the development of the medical and health industry, new health monitoring devices have attracted a lot of attention. By placing sensors in different organs, intelligent detection of human behavior and diagnosis of physical health can be achieved. Traditional electronic sensor devices have huge deficiencies in capturing tiny stimulus signals and comfort. Wearable sensors based on flexible conductive hydrogels are the most promising candidates for conventional sensors. However, the development of conductive hydrogels with good self‐healing and adhesion properties is still a challenge. Herein, a flexible polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel is prepared with good self‐healing properties, self‐adhesive and conductive properties based on polyvinyl alcohol, sodium phytate solution, and borax using a simple method. The abundant hydrogen bonding interactions, dynamically reversible borate ester bonds in the hydrogel network endowed the hydrogel with good self‐healing properties, self‐adhesion, and electrical conductivity. The fractured hydrogels showed almost disappearance of cracks after 30 min of self‐healing, and the efficiency of electrochemical repair within 0.1 s is close to 100%. The hydrogels can achieve good adhesion to different substrates and can be used as flexible writable circuits and smart wearable sensors, which have promising applications in the fields of flexible electronics, smart sensing, and health monitoring.