Tough Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogels with Hydrogen-Bonding Network Junctions
Eindhoven University of Technology · Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry · +1 more institution
Abstract
Hydrogels were prepared with physical cross-links comprising 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) hydrogen-bonding units within the backbone of segmented amphiphilic macromolecules having hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The bulk materials adopt nanoscopic physical cross-links composed of UPy-UPy dimers embedded in segregated hydrophobic domains dispersed within the PEG matrix as comfirmed by cryo-electron microscopy. The amphiphilic network was swollen with high weight fractions of water (w(H2O) ≈ 0.8) owing to the high PEG weight fraction within the pristine polymers (w(PEG) ≈ 0.9). Two different PEG chain lengths were investigated and illustrate the corresponding consequences of cross-link density on…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 17.36
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 83
Authors
6Topics & keywords
- Self-healing hydrogels
- Chemistry
- Polymer
- Supramolecular chemistry
- PEG ratio
- Amphiphile
- Ethylene glycol
- Supramolecular polymers
- Clean water and sanitation