Ultrasensitive conductive hydrogels conferred by nanoscale synergistic effect

The inherent limitations of hydrogels, such as low electrical conductivity and inadequate sensitivity, present considerable challenges in flexible electronic applications. To address these issues, we proposed an innovative synthesis technique that synergistically leveraged the nanoscale properties of the conductive fillers including one-dimensional polyaniline and two-dimensional reduced graphene oxide to fabricate hydrogels with exceptional conductivity. This advanced hydrogel exhibited an extraordinary sensitivity with a gauge factor of 27.55, impressive electrical conductivity (7.2 mS/cm), and outstanding stability. Additionally, the hydrogel demonstrated excellent self-adhesion and robust self-healing properties, attributed to its abundant catechol functionalities, hydrogen bonding interactions, and π-π stacking. Consequently, the flexible, strain-sensitive, self-powered sensors derived from these hydrogels displayed unparalleled sensing performance, positioning them as highly promising candidates for advanced human-computer interaction systems and sophisticated information transmission applications.