Super-Stretchable and Self-Healing hydrogel with a Three-Dimensional silver nanowires network structure for wearable sensor and electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract

With the rapid development of the electronics industry, smart wearable electronics and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have attracted tremendous interest. However, it is still a great challenge to maintain stable performance after damage. Herein, we prepare a super-stretchable and self-healing hydrogel composite with exceptional EMI shielding performance by the in situ polymerization of the acrylamide (AAm) and N-acryloyl-11-aminoundecanoic acid (A-11) in the silver nanowires (AgNWs) aerogel with a cellular structure. Benefiting the continuous three-dimensional AgNWs network, the hydrogel composite has high electrical conductivity (83 S/cm), outstanding resistance-strain response of more than 800% tensile strain, and exceptional EMI effectiveness (SE) of 66 dB in X-band, capable of monitoring human motions as a wearable sensor. Moreover, the reversible hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonding interactions endow the hydrogel composite with excellent self-healing capability (EMI SE healing efficiency of 90%). The healed hydrogel composite can still serve as a sensor to respond rapidly and steadily to human motions. The super-stretchable and self-healing hydrogel composite holds great promise for smart wearable electronics and EMI shielding.