Environment-adaptable PAM/PVA Semi-IPN hydrogels reinforced by GO for high electromagnetic shielding performance

In this work, one type of mechanically robust, lithium chloride (LiCl)-containing semi-interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel consisting of crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAM) and linear polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) chains and reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) was fabricated, which had excellent anti-dehydration, anti-icing and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. The experimental results showed PAM/PVA/GO/LiCl hydrogels had excellent cyclic compression recovery performance. The compressive strength of PAM/PVA (6 wt%)/GO (0.1 wt%)/LiCl (12 mol/1000 g PVA/GO solution) (PAM/PVA6/GO0.1/LiCl12) hydrogel was almost unchanged after 10 compression cycles at a compressive strain of 70%. The water retention rate of PAM/PVA6/GO0.1/LiCl12 hydrogels was nearly 100% under the conditions of 25 °C and 30% RH for 30 h. In addition, the hydrogels had good flexibility even at −50 °C, demonstrating excellent anti-icing properties. The hydrogels exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and EMI shielding performance whose shielding effectiveness was beyond 37.2 dB, showing potential applications in wearable devices, sensors or telecommunications.