Nano-lignin@TA-AgNPs reinforced green adhesives: high-performance systems for harsh environments

Green formaldehyde-free adhesives have gained attention for their eco-friendliness, though poor extreme-environment adaptability and inadequate underwater adhesion limit their practical application. This study presents a novel tannic acid‑silver nanoparticles (TA-AgNPs) in deep eutectic solvent (DES) for room-temperature autocatalytic polymerization of acrylic acid. By integrating nano-lignin (LNP) and TA-AgNPs, we constructed a dual dynamic enhancement structure through a catechol-quinone redox couple, enabling synergistic dynamic covalent/non-covalent bonding. The resulting green adhesive (TALP) demonstrates exceptional interfacial adhesion (1.3 MPa on wood) with 60-days durability under ambient conditions. The DES-mediated hydrogen-bonding network facilitates efficient interfacial water displacement, achieving underwater adhesion strength of 0.94 MPa and maintaining operational efficacy across extreme temperatures (−40 °C to 100 °C) and chemical solvents. The system exhibits a rapid recovery capability (3-s pipe leakage repair) via dynamic bond reconfiguration. Notably, the phenolic hydroxyl groups in TA synergize with AgNPs' bactericidal activity, yielding potent antimicrobial performance suitable for bacterial-prone environments. This multifunctional adhesive platform combines environmental adaptability, rapid repair, and intrinsic biocidal properties, offering transformative potential for industrial and biomedical applications under harsh conditions.