Highly Stretchable, Shape Memory Organohydrogels Using Phase-Transition Microinclusions

Shape memory effect in polymer materials has attracted considerable attention due to its promising applications in a variety of fields. However, shape memory polymers prepared by conventional strategy suffer from a common problem, in which high strain capacity and excellent shape memory behavior cannot be simultaneously achieved. This study reports a general and synergistic strategy to fabricate high-strain and tough shape memory organohydrogels that feature binary cooperative phase. The phase- transition micro-organogels and elastic hydrogel framework act synergistically to provide excellent thermomechanical performance and shape memory effect. During shape memory process, the organohydrogels exhibit high strain capacity, featuring fully recoverable stretching deformation by up to 2600% and compression by up to 85% beneath a load ≈20 times the organohydrogel's weight. Furthermore, owing to the micro-organogel and hydrogel heterostructures, the interfacial tension derived from heterophases dominates the shape recovery of the organohydrogel material. Simple processing and smart surface patterning of the shape memory behavior and multiple shape memory effects can also be realized. Meanwhile, these organohydrogels are also nonswellable in water and oil, which is important for multimedia applications.