Ionic gels are emerging stimuli-response elastomers for biomimetic sensors in diverse fields. Photoresponse ionic gels can detect light as a photoreceptor to emulate biological vision for artificial retina and skin. However, the existing ionic gel-based photosensors face limited response speeds and detecting sensitivity due to inefficient ion transport. Here, a high-performance elastomeric photodetector made of polyvinyl alcohol-based pyroelectric eutectogels, containing polar ions and crystalline domains, is reported, which exhibits a high pyroelectric coefficient and enables efficient optical-to-electrical conversion via spontaneous polarization, even under 30% tensile strain. The resulting self-powered photodetector features a broad spectral response spanning 365–1300 nm, with photoresponsivity, detectivity, and response time of 42.06 mA W −1 , 7.65 × 10 10 Jones and 24/35 ms at 455 nm, respectively. The photodetector array enables light-encrypted communication and sensitive optical imaging.
Mang Wu,Jianfei Ma,Xiankun Wu,Junsheng Yang,Zhongkai Wang
Recently, one of the challenges faced by autonomous self-healing materials is how to improve strength and toughness while maintaining rapid self-healing properties at ambient temperature. Herein, by integrating multi-scale dynamic physical networks that are hydrogen bonds , metal-coordination bonds, and dynamic crystalline domains in bio-based long-chain polyamides , a series of multi-scale elastomers (MSE n ) were obtained. The multi-scale dynamic physical networks endow elastomers with low initial modulus , outstanding nonlinear “J-shaped” stress-strain mechanoresponsive behavior, high tear-resistance, and good puncture properties. More importantly, the representative elastomers MSE 18 exhibit outstanding toughness (strength of 66.3 ± 1.84 MPa, elongation at break of 660 ± 17.28%, and toughness of 155 ± 4.32 MJ/m 3 ) and rapid autonomic self-healing properties (totally healed in 3 h at room temperature). The design concept indicates a promising direction for elastomers with ultra-tough mechanical properties and rapid room temperature self-healing behavior without external stimuli.