Skin-inspired hydrogel–elastomer hybrids with robust interfaces and functional microstructures
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Skin-inspired.pdf
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Author(s)
Zhang, Teng
Yuk, Hyunwoo
Parada Hernandez, German Alberto
Liu, Xinyue
Zhao, Xuanhe
Date Issued
June 2016
Journal
Nature Communications
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Citation
Yuk, Hyunwoo et al. “Skin-Inspired Hydrogel–elastomer Hybrids with Robust Interfaces and Functional Microstructures.” Nature Communications 7 (2016): 12028.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
nspired by mammalian skins, soft hybrids integrating the merits of elastomers and hydrogels have potential applications in diverse areas including stretchable and bio-integrated electronics, microfluidics, tissue engineering, soft robotics and biomedical devices. However, existing hydrogel–elastomer hybrids have limitations such as weak interfacial bonding, low robustness and difficulties in patterning microstructures. Here, we report a simple yet versatile method to assemble hydrogels and elastomers into hybrids with extremely robust interfaces (interfacial toughness over 1,000 Jm[superscript −2]) and functional microstructures such as microfluidic channels and electrical circuits. The proposed method is generally applicable to various types of tough hydrogels and diverse commonly used elastomers including polydimethylsiloxane Sylgard 184, polyurethane, latex, VHB and Ecoflex. We further demonstrate applications enabled by the robust and microstructured hydrogel–elastomer hybrids including anti-dehydration hydrogel–elastomer hybrids, stretchable and reactive hydrogel–elastomer microfluidics, and stretchable hydrogel circuit boards patterned on elastomer.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12028
