Protocol to fabricate ionic hydrogel with ultra-stretchable and fast self-healing ability in cryogenic environments

Abstract

Summary: Self-healing materials exhibit irreplaceable advantages in artificial electronics given their ability to repair from accidental damage, but the self-healing ability is temperature sensitive, limiting their applications in cryogenic environments. Here, we describe steps to fabricate a versatile ionic hydrogel with fast self-healing ability, ultra-stretchability, and stable conductivity, under the temperature ranging from −80°C to 30°C. We also detail steps for characterizing the polymer structure and interactions of the ionic hydrogel, as well as the mechanical, electrical, and self-healing properties.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wang et al. (2022).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Keywords

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Material sciences