Flexible high electrochemical collagen/lignin composite hydrogel for sensing and supercapacitor applications

Synthesis of polymer-based highly conductive hydrogels from natural and renewable sources with robust mechanical performances in flexible electronics remains a great challenge. In this research, a dynamic redox system is designed by using collagen (CL), sulfonate lignin (SL), acrylic acid (AA), and Al3+ to synthesize CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogels. The formation of effective complexes of Al3+ with the abundant functional groups of CL, SL and PAA, the prepared hydrogel delivers various specific properties, for example, excellent ionic conductivity (4.61 S·m−1), stretchability and antimicrobial performance. The CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogel demonstrates good mechanical strength, while the maximum tensile strength of the hydrogels is ∼604 kPa at a stretching of 1254 %, and the maximum compressive strength is ∼0.45 MPa, with the maximum stretching of 59.6 %. The CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogel acts as a flexible strain sensor with high sensitivity. Enough hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in the hydrogels are essential for delivering the maximum 191 mV of open circuit voltage (Voc) rendered during moisture spraying. The supercapacitor assembled from CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogel manifests specific capacitance (Cs), maximum energy density (Ed) and power density (Pd) of 268.75 F·g−1, 23.89 Wh·kg−1 and 2.4 kW·kg−1, respectively. The supercapacitor can retain its capacitance of 95.8 % after 5000 consecutive charge-discharge cycles. A highly flexible, elastic, and conductive CL/PAA/SL/Al composite hydrogel was synthesized. [Display omitted] •A highly flexible, elastic, and conductive CL/PAA/SL/Al composite hydrogel was synthesized.•CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogel demonstrated antimicrobial activity and sensing properties.•CL/PAA/SL/Al hydrogel showed supercapacitive properties.