Inorganic Salts Induce Thermally Reversible and Anti‐Freezing Cellulose Hydrogels

Abstract Inspired by the anti‐freezing mechanisms found in nature, ionic compounds (ZnCl 2 /CaCl 2 ) are integrated into cellulose hydrogel networks to enhance the freezing resistance. In this work, cotton cellulose is dissolved by a specially designed ZnCl 2 /CaCl 2 system, which endows the cellulose hydrogels specific properties such as excellent freeze‐tolerance, good ion conductivity, and superior thermal reversibility. Interestingly, the rate of cellulose coagulation could be promoted by the addition of extra water or glycerol. This new type of cellulose‐based hydrogel may be suitable for the construction of flexible devices used at temperature as low as −70 °C.

• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
• PA
  Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
• BR
  Basic Research Program of Jiangsu Province

  Award: BK20180766