Conducting hydrogels of tetraaniline-g-poly(vinyl alcohol) in situ reinforced by supramolecular nanofibers.
Novel conducting hydrogels (PVA-TA) with dual network structures were synthesized by the grafting reaction of tetraaniline (TA) into the main chains of poly(vinyl alcohol) and in situ reinforced by self-assembly of a sorbitol derivative as the gelator. The chemical structure of the PVA-TA hydrogels was characterized by using FT-IR and NMR. The mechanical strength of the PVA-TA hydrogels was strongly improved due to the presence of supramolecular nanofibers. For instance, the compressive and tensile strengths of supramolecular nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels were, respectively, 10 times and 5 times higher than those of PVA-TA hydrogels. Their storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G″) were 5 times and 21 times higher than those of PVA-TA hydrogels, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and conductivity measurements indicated that the electroactivity of reinforced hydrogels is not influenced by the presence of supramolecular nanofibers.
Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and Systems, Ministry of Education, and ‡School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan 430074, China.
Huabo
H
Huang
Wan
W
Li
Hong
H
Wang
Xiaoping
X
Zeng
Qin
Q
Wang
Yajiang
Y
Yang
D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013718:Tensile Strength
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D020100:Hydrogels; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol