Autonomous self-healing of poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels induced by the migration of ferric ionsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: The synthetic and self-healing experimental details, Raman, FTIR, and self-healing coatings. See DOI: 10.1039/c3py00692a

A facile and versatile strategy was developed for the preparation of self-healing hydrogels containing double networks of both physically and chemically cross-linked polymers. The autonomous self-healing of the hydrogel was achieved through the dynamic bonding of physical cross-linking and the migration of ferric ions. Autonomous self-healing of the hydrogel was achieved through the dynamic bonding of physical cross-linking and the migration of ferric ions.