Hysteresis-Free Near-Ideal Elastic Gels
Weizheng Li(李维政)1*, Jiaofeng Xiong1, Xiuyang Zou2, Lingling Li1, Jiayu Wang1, Bingyang Wu1, Zhe Sun1,Changcun Yan1, Feng Yan(严锋)1,3*
1Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Suzhou KeyLaboratory of Soft Material and New Energy, Innovation Center for Advanced Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and MaterialsScience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
2School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, China
3State KeyLaboratory For Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
Adv. Mater., 2026, 38, e74139
Abstract:The mechanical properties of covalently crosslinked gels or elastomers stem from the crosslinking of the polymer chains and entanglement. Increasing the crosslinking density of covalent networks improves their entropic elasticity but also increases their brittleness. Addressing conflicts between rigidity and toughness, large strains, elasticity, and crack extension presents a challenging task. Here, we present a spatial crosslinking (SC) strategy utilizing a spider-like crosslinker to materialize creep-resistant, and low-hysteresis hydrogels under substantial deformations (ε=6000%). The SC approach not only boosts the entropic elasticity of the hydrogels but also disperses stress arising from fractured polymers, leading to notable enhancements in fracture strain, toughness, and crack propagation strain (8200%). Furthermore, the SC hydrogels exhibit the remarkable ability to endure 99% of the ultimate compressive strain at the fully swollen state, along with rapid rebound and creep-free capabilities, rendering them highly promising candidates for various applications such as drift-free sensor, artificial blood vessels, and soft robotics.
Article information: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.74139