Balancing mechanical-thermal-electrical properties in cellulose ionogels via crystallization-induced molecular assembly.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41238530.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-64966-y and PMC identifier 12618599.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Cellulose-based ionogels are promising for flexible electronics and energy devices, yet their performance is often constrained by the trade-offs among mechanical robustness, ionic conductivity, and thermal stability. Here, we propose a synergistic strategy that integrates dual-ions complexation with crystallization-induced molecular assembly to fabricate a cellulose ionogel. This strategy results in a comprehensive ionogel (noted as Cry-gel) with high mechanical strength (2.3 MPa in tension and 5.3 MPa in compression) and high ionic conductivity (96.8 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>). Moreover, the Cry-gel can maintain impressive structural stability across a temperature range of -40 to 80 °C. Flexible thermoelectric devices and smart sensors derived from Cry-gels demonstrate a voltage of 0.28 V at a temperature gradient of 60 K, an impressive Seebeck coefficient of 6 mV K<sup>-1</sup>, and high sensitivity to pressure, temperature, touch, and human pulse. This work provides a paradigm for creating multifunctional sustainable materials, effectively bridging the gap between high-performance ionogels and their applications in cutting-edge bioelectronics and energy harvesting systems.