A flexible wearable sensor based on the multiple interaction and synergistic effect of the hydrogel components with anti-freezing, low swelling for human motion detection and underwater communication

To meet the increasing demand for wearable sensor in special environment such as low temperature or underwater, a multifunctional ionic conducting hydrogel (Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel) with anti-freezing and low swelling for human motion detection and underwater communication was prepared using gelatin (Gel), [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid (AAc), and AlCl3. Due to reversible hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and metal coordination crosslinking between the polymer networks, the resulting Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogels present low swelling property in water and exhibit large tensile properties (~1050 %), high tensile strength (~250 kPa) and excellent fatigue resistance. In addition, the hydration capacity of SBMA and AlCl3 endows the Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel fantastic anti-freezing (−31.58 °C) and water retention properties. Moreover, the electrostatic interaction between SBMA and AlCl3 due to the ion hopping mechanism endows the hydrogel with excellent ionic conductivity (6.38 mS/cm). The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel sensors present good biocompatibility and provide a wide operating range (0 %–1050 %), fast response time (229 ms) and recovery time (248 ms), high sensitivity (GF = 1.61) and excellent stability for detecting large and small body movements. The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel shows potential applications as a wearable sensor for communication at low temperature or underwater. •An ionic conducting hydrogel with multiple crosslinked network structure was prepared.•The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel has good tensile strength (252.7 kPa) and elongation at break (1053.8 %).•The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel exhibits good anti-freezing, water retention and electrical conductivity.•The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel exhibits low swelling properties.•The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel can be used for underwater communication applications.