Sensing applications of antifreeze PANI/PVA/EG hydrogels and human motion monitoring at − 18 °C
摘要
PANI/PVA/EG composite hydrogels with excellent antifreeze performance at -18 °C and high flexibility were successfully fabricated via the in-situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) in a polyvinyl alcohol/ethylene glycol (PVA/EG) dual-network hydrogel matrix. This structured composite hydrogel displayed outstanding mechanical properties, with a maximum tensile stress of 0.45 MPa, an elongation at break of 455%, and complete shape recovery after 3000 cycles of 90° bending. It featured a rod-like nanofibrous structure and possessed an equivalent series resistance of 4.83 Ω, a discharge time of 43 s, and a specific capacitance of 107.5 mF/cm2, thus exhibiting superior charge storage performance. Photosensitivity tests indicated that the hydrogel presented the strongest photoresponse to red light (700 nm) and the weakest to ultraviolet light (< 400 nm), endowing it with distinct wavelength-selective photosensitive properties. Moreover, the hydrogel maintained stable electrical signal responses upon stepwise tensile deformations of 14%, 28%, and 42% (with corresponding gauge factors (GFs) of 2.983, 4.385, and 3.601, respectively) and 3000 cycles of tensile testing at 28% strain, which attested to its high sensing sensitivity and excellent structural durability. In conclusion, the PANI/PVA/EG composite hydrogel, as a flexible sensor, integrates excellent electrochemical energy storage performance, superior mechanical flexibility, and favorable low-temperature adaptability, rendering it highly promising for practical applications such as real-time human motion monitoring in cold environments.