Sponge-inspired multisensory hydrogel

The preparation of smart sensors with multiple sensory systems, reusable property, and high sensitivity remains a challenge. Here, inspired by a sponge, we develop a multisensory PCA–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/borax–LiCl hydrogel (named PPL hydrogel) with low cost and simple fabrication process using sodium polyacrylate (PAAS), PVA, and lithium chloride (LiCl) to address this challenge. PPL hydrogel has a sponge-like porous structure and can repeatedly “absorb” and “drain” water, while maintaining good tensile (strain up to 1442%) and electrical conductivity. PAAS builds the main skeleton of PPL hydrogels and provides the basis for building the pore structure, PVA enhances the mechanical properties of the crosslinked network, while LiCl ionic solution further improves the conductivity, which can reach 8.8 s m⁻¹ and be increased nearly 42 times better than without LiCl. Therefore, this makes PPL hydrogel a very sensitive sensing system for wearable devices that can be used to detect signals from the human body. Additionally, PPL hydrogel is also capable of detecting temperature due to its temperature-sensitive properties. Moreover, PPL hydrogel can also roughly identify the basic properties of different solvents. Our simple, low-cost and multisensory PPL hydrogel offers promising opportunities for multisensory sensors, even functional/smart materials, flexible/wearable devices, and medical care.