Facile strategy of supramolecular adhesives based on water-soluble polymers and tannic acid

There is a great deal of scientific interest in developing simple, adaptable, and affordable strategies for adhesive preparation. In this study, we present that naturally generated, inexpensive tannic acid (TA) can function as an effective gelation binder for the adhesive formulation with a series of commercially available water-soluble polymers. Due to the presence of a five-polyphenol-arm structure of TA, it can grip the polymer chain by hydrogen bonds or ionic bonds . These effective interactions can be properly balanced by adjusting the weight ratios of polymer to TA, which is the fundamental indication for the preparation of supramolecular adhesives. The prepared supramolecular adhesives demonstrate the variety of functionalities such as good adhesion performance, excellent biocompatibility, and free radical scavenging capabilities. TA as a dynamic and adaptable catechol group modifier renders a facile route for the preparation of multifunctional adhesives, which depicts evident advantages including easy and eco-friendly, inexpensive, and large-scale preparation. These supramolecular adhesives have great potential in the biomedicines, bioelectronics, and building industries.