One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors

Abstract This study explored the synthesis and 3D printing of an electrolytic hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer (poly(AM-co-AA)), using lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) as a photoinitiator, along with N,N′-Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) and sodium algin...

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Main Authors: Phanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek, Nuttapol Risangud, Manunya Okhawilai, Worapong Leewattanakit, Lih-Sheng Turng, Chuanchom Aumnate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97120-1
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author Phanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek
Nuttapol Risangud
Manunya Okhawilai
Worapong Leewattanakit
Lih-Sheng Turng
Chuanchom Aumnate
author_facet Phanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek
Nuttapol Risangud
Manunya Okhawilai
Worapong Leewattanakit
Lih-Sheng Turng
Chuanchom Aumnate
author_sort Phanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study explored the synthesis and 3D printing of an electrolytic hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer (poly(AM-co-AA)), using lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) as a photoinitiator, along with N,N′-Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) and sodium alginate (SA) for crosslinking. The hydrogel matrix, incorporated with electrolyte fillers, including sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2·2H2O), and aluminum trichloride hexahydrate (AlCl3·6H2O), was fabricated via a one-step approach and printed with an LCD-3D printer, yielding a porous structure with remarkable water absorption capacity and tailored mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the NaCl electrolyte poly(AM-co-AA) hydrogel revealed a highly porous surface structure, contributing to a remarkable water absorption capacity exceeding 800%. The mechanical and electrical properties of this 3D-printed hydrogel were found to be intermediate between those of MBA crosslinked poly(AM-co-AA) and MBA crosslinked poly(AM-co-AA) with SA. This hydrogel exhibited efficient conductivity and flexibility, making it well-suited for potential use in strain sensors and wearable devices, enabling real-time monitoring of human activities, such as finger bending.
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spelling doaj-art-45c620e36dba4c43bf0debb455ac644f2025-08-20T02:12:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-97120-1One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensorsPhanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek0Nuttapol Risangud1Manunya Okhawilai2Worapong Leewattanakit3Lih-Sheng Turng4Chuanchom Aumnate5Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityPetroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn UniversityCenter of Excellence in Responsive Wearable Materials, Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityFaculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Chulalongkorn UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–MadisonMetallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityAbstract This study explored the synthesis and 3D printing of an electrolytic hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer (poly(AM-co-AA)), using lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) as a photoinitiator, along with N,N′-Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) and sodium alginate (SA) for crosslinking. The hydrogel matrix, incorporated with electrolyte fillers, including sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2·2H2O), and aluminum trichloride hexahydrate (AlCl3·6H2O), was fabricated via a one-step approach and printed with an LCD-3D printer, yielding a porous structure with remarkable water absorption capacity and tailored mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the NaCl electrolyte poly(AM-co-AA) hydrogel revealed a highly porous surface structure, contributing to a remarkable water absorption capacity exceeding 800%. The mechanical and electrical properties of this 3D-printed hydrogel were found to be intermediate between those of MBA crosslinked poly(AM-co-AA) and MBA crosslinked poly(AM-co-AA) with SA. This hydrogel exhibited efficient conductivity and flexibility, making it well-suited for potential use in strain sensors and wearable devices, enabling real-time monitoring of human activities, such as finger bending.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97120-13D printingConductive hydrogelPolyacrylamideAcrylic acidWearable devices
spellingShingle Phanthanyaphon Tsupphayakorn-aek
Nuttapol Risangud
Manunya Okhawilai
Worapong Leewattanakit
Lih-Sheng Turng
Chuanchom Aumnate
One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
Scientific Reports
3D printing
Conductive hydrogel
Polyacrylamide
Acrylic acid
Wearable devices
title One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
title_full One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
title_fullStr One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
title_full_unstemmed One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
title_short One-step 3D printing of flexible poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
title_sort one step 3d printing of flexible poly acrylamide co acrylic acid hydrogels for enhanced mechanical and electrical performance in wearable strain sensors
topic 3D printing
Conductive hydrogel
Polyacrylamide
Acrylic acid
Wearable devices
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97120-1
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