On-demand detachable and reuseable adhesives assembled by organic-silicon nanogels with wide applicability and excellent harsh-environment resistance

Detachable adhesives are extensively utilized in many fields such as electronic assembly and medical devices, yet achieving a balance between adhesive strength and removability still remains a significant challenge. In this study, we designed a kind of novel adhesive of organic-silicon nanogels (P(TPHA-Si)) based on the self-polymerizing of an organic siloxane monomer (TPHA-Si) in ethanol/water mixture under mild conditions. P(TPHA-Si) self-assembled adhesive possessed not only detachable and reuseable advantages, but also wide applicability and excellent harsh-environment resistance. Remarkably, the adhesive strength to glass reached up to 14.6 MPa, heretofore one of the highest strengths of detachable adhesives. The P(TPHA-Si) adhesive could be easily dissociated by ethanol infiltration, allowing for an environmentally friendly detachability and user-friendly reusability. On the other hand, P(TPHA-Si) adhesive could withstand harsh environmental conditions including different acid, alkali and salt solutions, various organic solvents, and −20–120 °C temperatures. Through empirical and theoretical computations, the molecular mechanism underlying the high-strength, detachable adhesion had been validated and elucidated. Considering the ease of processing, cost-effectiveness, Eco-friendly ethanol-assisted detachability and reusability, as well as strong adhesion under harsh conditions, the design of transparent P(TPHA-Si) adhesive offers a commendable pathway for the development of multifunctional detachable adhesives, which are expected to be able to exhibit great potential for applications in electronics and medical fields.