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The Manufacture of Unbreakable Bionics via Multifunctional and Self‐Healing Silk–Graphene Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Kadumudi Firoz Babu,
Hasany Masoud,
Pierchala Malgorzata Karolina,
Jahanshahi Mohammadjavad,
Taebnia Nayere,
Mehrali Mehdi,
Mitu Cristian Florian,
Shahbazi MohammadAli,
Zsurzsan TiberiuGabriel,
Knott Arnold,
Andresen Thomas L.,
DolatshahiPirouz Alireza
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202100047
Subject(s) - materials science , bionics , silk , nanotechnology , graphene , self healing , self healing hydrogels , bioelectronics , electronic skin , electronics , fibroin , biomimetics , composite material , computer science , biosensor , artificial intelligence , electrical engineering , medicine , alternative medicine , engineering , pathology , polymer chemistry
Biomaterials capable of transmitting signals over longer distances than those in rigid electronics can open new opportunities for humanity by mimicking the way tissues propagate information. For seamless mirroring of the human body, they also have to display conformability to its curvilinear architecture, as well as, reproducing native‐like mechanical and electrical properties combined with the ability to self‐heal on demand like native organs and tissues. Along these lines, a multifunctional composite is developed by mixing silk fibroin and reduced graphene oxide. The material is coined “CareGum” and capitalizes on a phenolic glue to facilitate sacrificial and hierarchical hydrogen bonds. The hierarchal bonding scheme gives rise to high mechanical toughness, record‐breaking elongation capacity of ≈25 000%, excellent conformability to arbitrary and complex surfaces, 3D printability, a tenfold increase in electrical conductivity, and a fourfold increase in Young's modulus compared to its pristine counterpart. By taking advantage of these unique properties, a durable and self‐healing bionic glove is developed for hand gesture sensing and sign translation. Indeed, CareGum is a new advanced material with promising applications in fields like cyborganics, bionics, soft robotics, human–machine interfaces, 3D‐printed electronics, and flexible bioelectronics.