Multi-Compatible, Self-Healing, and Temperature-Responsive Organohydrogels by Sub-Nanowires.

Abstract

Organohydrogels have significant applications in numerous fields. The current synthetic strategies generally rely on the intricate and complex design of lipophilic or hydrophilic polymers to achieve the goal of oil-water interpenetration. Herein, sub-nanowires organohydrogels with a dual-phase structure are fabricated by simply mixing hydroxyapatite sub-nanowires with organic solvent and aqueous phase. The sub-nanowires in the oil phase provide structural support, while surfactants in the sub-nanowires exist at the interface between oil and water, thus forming the water-in-oil structure. The organohydrogels possess commendable mechanical properties, an inherent self-healing ability, and a specific temperature-responsive behavior. Moreover, the organohydrogels are compatible with a variety of organic solvents and polymers, reserving the promise for wide-range applications in the future.