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Gels
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Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics
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Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2024) | Viewed by 9124

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Massimo Mariello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
Interests: bioelectronics; biosensors; microfabrication; thin films; implantable devices; nanogenerators; energy harvesting; drug delivery; flexible electronics; hydrogel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 South Broadway Street, Pittsburg, KS 66762, USA
Interests: nanocomposites; fibres; polymers; gels; biopolymers; calcium phosphate; gelatine; electrospun; electrospinning; coatings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics”, focuses on developing advanced gel materials for utilization in flexible and wearable electronic devices. With the growing demand for flexible and stretchable electronics, smart gel materials have emerged as promising candidates due to their distinctive properties, including flexibility, their capacity for self-healing, and electrical conductivity. This Special Issue aims to explore the recent advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of smart gel materials for flexible and wearable electronics.

The Special Issue discusses the synthesis and fabrication methods employed with regard to smart gel materials for flexible and wearable electronics. It also discusses the importance of gel materials in enabling the development of lightweight, stretchable, and durable electronic devices that can conform to complex shapes and withstand mechanical deformation. The Special Issue also addresses the challenges and future perspectives in the field, including developing novel gel formulations, enhancing their electrical conductivity, and optimizing their self-healing capabilities.

Overall, this Special Issue aims to provide comprehensive insights into the development of smart gel materials for flexible and wearable electronics. The research within this Special Issue will contribute to the advancement of electronic devices that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday life, enabling the widespread adoption of wearable technologies and expanding the potential applications of flexible electronics.

Dr. Massimo Mariello
Dr. Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • smart gel materials
  • flexible electronics
  • wearable electronics
  • gel synthesis
  • material characterization
  • electrical conductivity
  • self-healing capability
  • stretchability
  • sensor technology
  • energy harvesting

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5009 KiB  
Article
Conductive-Polymer-Based Double-Network Hydrogels for Wearable Supercapacitors
by Bu Quan, Linjie Du, Zixuan Zhou, Xin Sun, Jadranka Travas-Sejdic and Bicheng Zhu
Gels 2024, 10(11), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10110688 - 24 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1363
Abstract
In the field of contemporary epidermal bioelectronics, there is a demand for energy supplies that are safe, lightweight, flexible and robust. In this work, double-network polymer hydrogels were synthesized by polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) into a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PVA/PEGDA) double-network hydrogel [...] Read more.
In the field of contemporary epidermal bioelectronics, there is a demand for energy supplies that are safe, lightweight, flexible and robust. In this work, double-network polymer hydrogels were synthesized by polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) into a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PVA/PEGDA) double-network hydrogel matrix. The PEDOT-PVA/PEGDA double-network hydrogel shows both excellent mechanical and electrochemical performance, having a strain up to 498%, electrical conductivity as high as 5 S m−1 and specific capacitance of 84.1 ± 3.6 mF cm⁻2. After assembling two PEDOT-PVA/PEGDA double-network hydrogel electrodes with the free-standing boron cross-linked PVA/KCl hydrogel electrolyte, the formed supercapacitor device exhibits a specific capacitance of 54.5 mF cm⁻2 at 10 mV s−1, with an energy density of 4.7 μWh cm−2. The device exhibits excellent electrochemical stability with 97.6% capacitance retention after 3000 charging–discharging cycles. In addition, the hydrogel also exhibits great sensitivity to strains and excellent antifouling properties. It was also found that the abovementioned hydrogel can achieve stable signals under both small and large deformations as a flexible sensor. The flexible and antifouling PEDOT-PVA/PEGDA double-network hydrogel-based supercapacitor is a promising power storage device with potential applications in wearable electronics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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15 pages, 5626 KiB  
Article
Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Gel Polymer Electrolyte Modified with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and SiO2 Nanospheres to Increase Rechargeability of Zn–Air Batteries
by Lucia Díaz-Patiño, Minerva Guerra-Balcázar, Lorena Álvarez-Contreras and Noé Arjona
Gels 2024, 10(9), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10090587 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Zn–air batteries (ZABs) are a promising technology; however, their commercialization is limited by challenges, including those occurring in the electrolyte, and thus, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) and hydrogels have emerged as substitutes for traditional aqueous electrolytes. In this work, PVA/PAA membranes were synthesized [...] Read more.
Zn–air batteries (ZABs) are a promising technology; however, their commercialization is limited by challenges, including those occurring in the electrolyte, and thus, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) and hydrogels have emerged as substitutes for traditional aqueous electrolytes. In this work, PVA/PAA membranes were synthesized by the solvent casting method and soaked in 6 M KOH to act as GPEs. The thickness of the membrane was modified (50, 100, and 150 μm), and after determining the best thickness, the membrane was modified with synthesized SiO2 nanospheres and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). SEM micrographs revealed that the CNTs displayed lengths of tens of micrometers, having a narrow diameter (95 ± 7 nm). In addition, SEM revealed that the SiO2 nanospheres had homogeneous shapes with sizes of 110 ± 10 nm. Physicochemical experiments revealed that SiO2 incorporation at 5 wt.% increased the water uptake of the PVA/PAA membrane from 465% to 525% and the ionic conductivity to 170 mS cm−1. The further addition of 0.5 wt.% CNTs did not impact the water uptake but it promoted a porous structure, increasing the power density and the stability, showing three-times-higher rechargeability than the ZAB operated with the PVA/PAA GPE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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18 pages, 27165 KiB  
Article
High-Performance Flexible Sensor with Sensitive Strain/Magnetic Dual-Mode Sensing Characteristics Based on Sodium Alginate and Carboxymethyl Cellulose
by Chong Liu, Longwang Yue, Yu Fu, Zhenshuai Wan, Li Wang, Yangke Wei and Sha Li
Gels 2024, 10(9), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10090555 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
Flexible sensors can measure various stimuli owing to their exceptional flexibility, stretchability, and electrical properties. However, the integration of multiple stimuli into a single sensor for measurement is challenging. To address this issue, the sensor developed in this study utilizes the natural biopolymers [...] Read more.
Flexible sensors can measure various stimuli owing to their exceptional flexibility, stretchability, and electrical properties. However, the integration of multiple stimuli into a single sensor for measurement is challenging. To address this issue, the sensor developed in this study utilizes the natural biopolymers sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose to construct a dual interpenetrating network, This results in a flexible porous sponge that exhibits a dual-modal response to strain and magnetic stimulation. The dual-mode flexible sensor achieved a maximum tensile strength of 429 kPa and elongation at break of 24.7%. It also exhibited rapid response times and reliable stability under both strain and magnetic stimuli. The porous foam sensor is intended for use as a wearable electronic device for monitoring joint movements of the body. It provides a swift and stable sensing response to mechanical stimuli arising from joint activities, such as stretching, compression, and bending. Furthermore, the sensor generates opposing response signals to strain and magnetic stimulation, enabling real-time decoupling of different stimuli. This study employed a simple and environmentally friendly manufacturing method for the dual-modal flexible sensor. Because of its remarkable performance, it has significant potential for application in smart wearable electronics and artificial electroskins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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14 pages, 4101 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Adsorption Photocatalytic Properties of PVA/TiO2 Colloidal Photonic Crystal Films
by Zhangyi Qian, Menghan Wang, Junling Li, Zhaoran Chu, Wenwei Tang and Cheng Chen
Gels 2024, 10(8), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10080520 - 7 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 947
Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/TiO2/colloidal photonic crystal (CPC) films with photocatalytic properties are presented, where TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced into the PVA gel network. Such PVA/TiO2/CPC films possess three-dimensional periodic structures that are supported with a PVA/TiO2 composite gel. [...] Read more.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/TiO2/colloidal photonic crystal (CPC) films with photocatalytic properties are presented, where TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced into the PVA gel network. Such PVA/TiO2/CPC films possess three-dimensional periodic structures that are supported with a PVA/TiO2 composite gel. The unique structural color of CPCs can indicate the process of material preparation, adsorption, and desorption. The shift of diffraction peaks of CPCs can be more accurately determined using fiber-optic spectroscopy. The effect of the PVA/TiO2/CPC catalyst films showed better properties as the degradation of methylene blue (MB) by the PVA/TiO2/CPC film catalyst in 4 h was 77~90%, while the degradation of MB by the PVA/TiO2 film was 33% in 4 h, indicating that the photonic crystal structure was 2.3~2.7 times more effective than that of the bulk structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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17 pages, 8476 KiB  
Article
Multi-Layer PVA-PANI Conductive Hydrogel for Symmetrical Supercapacitors: Preparation and Characterization
by Angelica Giovagnoli, Giada D’Altri, Lamyea Yeasmin, Valentina Di Matteo, Stefano Scurti, Maria Francesca Di Filippo, Isacco Gualandi, Maria Cristina Cassani, Daniele Caretti, Silvia Panzavolta, Maria Letizia Focarete, Mariangela Rea and Barbara Ballarin
Gels 2024, 10(7), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070458 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1814
Abstract
This work describes a simple, inexpensive, and robust method to prepare a flexible “all in one” integrated hydrogel supercapacitors (HySCs). Preparing smart hydrogels with high electrical conductivity, ability to stretch significantly, and excellent mechanical properties is the last challenge for tailored wearable devices. [...] Read more.
This work describes a simple, inexpensive, and robust method to prepare a flexible “all in one” integrated hydrogel supercapacitors (HySCs). Preparing smart hydrogels with high electrical conductivity, ability to stretch significantly, and excellent mechanical properties is the last challenge for tailored wearable devices. In this paper, we employed a physical crosslinking process that involves consecutive freezing and thawing cycles to prepare a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogel. Exploiting the self-healing properties of these materials, the assembly of the different layers of the HySCs has been performed. The ionic conductivity within the electrolyte layer arises from the inclusion of an H2SO4 solution in the hydrogel network. Instead, the electronic conductivity is facilitated by the addition of the conductive polymer PANI-PAMPSA into the hydrogel layers. Electrochemical measures have highlighted newsworthy properties related to our HySCs, opening their use in wearable electronic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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19 pages, 8121 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Production of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Wound Healing Dressing Containing Sericin
by Massimo Mariello, Enrico Binetti, Maria Teresa Todaro, Antonio Qualtieri, Virgilio Brunetti, Pietro Siciliano, Massimo De Vittorio and Laura Blasi
Gels 2024, 10(6), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10060412 - 20 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1782
Abstract
Wound dressing production represents an important segment in the biomedical healthcare field, but finding a simple and eco-friendly method that combines a natural compound and a biocompatible dressing production for biomedical application is still a challenge. Therefore, the aim of this study is [...] Read more.
Wound dressing production represents an important segment in the biomedical healthcare field, but finding a simple and eco-friendly method that combines a natural compound and a biocompatible dressing production for biomedical application is still a challenge. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop wound healing dressings that are environmentally friendly, low cost, and easily produced, using natural agents and a physical crosslinking technique. Hydrogel wound healing dressings were prepared from polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose and sericin using the freeze–thawing method as a crosslinking method. The morphological characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whereas the mechanical analysis was carried out by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to test the tensile strength and compression properties. Then, the healing property of the wound dressing material was tested by in vitro and ex vivo tests. The results show a three-dimensional microporous structure with no cytotoxicity, excellent stretchability with compressive properties similar to those of human skin, and excellent healing properties. The proposed hydrogel dressing was tested in vitro with HaCaT keratinocytes and ex vivo with epidermal tissues, demonstrating an effective advantage on wound healing acceleration. Accordingly, this study was successful in developing wound healing dressings using natural agents and a simple and green crosslinking method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Gel Material in Flexible and Wearable Electronics)
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