Facile Preparation of Super-strong and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Enabled by Triple Crosslinking Networks

Fei Zuo; Jie Hu; Si-Xian Zhang; Jun-Xia Guo; Rui-Guang Li; Yu-Meng Xin; Cheng-Jie Li; Jian-Qin Yan

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3438-z

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Facile Preparation of Super-strong and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Enabled by Triple Crosslinking Networks

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-12-03

- Facile Preparation of Super-strong and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Enabled by Triple Crosslinking Networks
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 12, Pages: 2432-2442(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
  b.Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266073, China
  c.Jiangsu Institute of Marine Resources Development, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Author bio：
  
  licj_poly@jou.edu.cn (C.J.L.)
  yanjianqin10@163.com (J.Q.Y.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3438-z
  CLC：
- Received：19 June 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-08-09，
  
  Accepted：17 August 2025，
  
  Published Online：12 November 2025，
  
  Published：15 December 2025
- Accepted：
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Zuo, F.; Hu, J.; Zhang, S. X.; Guo, J. X.; Li, R. G.; Xin, Y. M.; Li, C. J.; Yan, J. Q. Facile preparation of super-strong and tough poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube hydrogel enabled by triple crosslinking networks. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2432–2442

Fei Zuo, Jie Hu, Si-Xian Zhang, et al. Facile Preparation of Super-strong and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Enabled by Triple Crosslinking Networks[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(12): 2432-2442.
Zuo, F.; Hu, J.; Zhang, S. X.; Guo, J. X.; Li, R. G.; Xin, Y. M.; Li, C. J.; Yan, J. Q. Facile preparation of super-strong and tough poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube hydrogel enabled by triple crosslinking networks. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2432–2442 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3438-z.

Fei Zuo, Jie Hu, Si-Xian Zhang, et al. Facile Preparation of Super-strong and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Enabled by Triple Crosslinking Networks[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(12): 2432-2442. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3438-z.

摘要

PVA/TA@CNT composite hydrogels with triple-crosslinking networks are shown. High mechanical strength

excellent flexibility

and good cytocompatibility

accompanied by a significant increase in crystallinity

address the challenge of balancing structural reinforcement with biosafety in hydrogels.

Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels have garnered significant attention for tissue engineering

wound dressing

and electronic skin sensing applications. However

their poor mechanical performance severely restricts their multifunctional application in many scenarios. To address this limitation

PVA/tannic acid (TA)@carbon nanotubes (PVA/TA@CNTs) composite hydrogels with triple crosslinking networks were prepared through freezing-thawing and the solvent-induced shrinkage method

utilizing tannic acid-carbon nanotubes (TA@CNTs) as reinforcing units and a Ca

crosslinking strategy. The enhanced interfacial networks consisting of PVA crystalline domains

hydrogen bonding

and metal coordination endowed the composite hydrogel with a high mechanical strength

excellent flexibility

and fracture toughness

accompanied by a significant increase in crystallinity. The tensile strength and fracture toughness of the composite hydrogel reached up to about 7.0 MPa and 17.0 MJ/m

which were roughly 8 and 10 times higher than those of neat PVA hydrogel

respectively. The composite hydrogel demonstrated good cytocompatibility

significantly addressing the challenge of balancing structural reinforcement with biosafety in hydrogels. This methodology establishes a rational design for fabricating mechanically robust yet tough PVA hydrogels for biomedical applications.

关键词

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references

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