Silicone-Enhanced PAA Supramolecular Hydrogels for High-Toughness Strain Sensors

Hydrogels have shown significant potential in the field of flexible electronics; however, their practical application remains limited due to mechanical performance constraints. Inspired by the supramolecular interactions observed in nature, this study designs a water-soluble PhAPSi_X polymer and introduces it into an aqueous acrylic acid solution. During in situ polymerization, a hydrogel network is formed through the self-assembly of supramolecular interactions, resulting in the fabrication of a PAA/PhAPSi₇₀ hydrogel with both high strength (2.29 MPa) and high toughness (4.47 MJ/m³). The strain sensors fabricated from this hydrogel demonstrate excellent performance, including high sensitivity (GF = 2.91), fast response time (893 ms), and short recovery time (997 ms), enabling effective monitoring of human motion. Additionally, the PAA/PhAPSi₇₀ hydrogel exhibits exceptional shape adaptability, allowing for the preparation of sensor devices with specific shapes based on demand. Therefore, the PAA/PhAPSi₇₀ hydrogel holds great promise for the next generation of flexible electronics and displays broad application prospects.