Adhesion enhancement via the synergistic effect of metal–ligand coordination and supramolecular host–guest interactions in luminescent hydrogels

Although there has been much recent exploration of tough hydrogel adhesion, luminescent hydrogel adhesion thus far has rarely been explored, limiting its further application. Herein, we report an approach to achieve adhesion enhancement via the synergistic effect of metal–ligand coordination and supramolecular host–guest interactions in luminescent hydrogels. Upon the addition of a stitching solution containing a lanthanide (Ln) complex and azobenzene⊂α-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, the adhesion energy between Ln-containing hydrogels greatly increases to 220 J m−2. Our results demonstrate a new strategy to achieve luminescent hydrogel tough adhesion without affecting the hydrogel luminescence behavior.