Highly Conductive and Mechanically Robust Cellulose Hydrogels Enabled by Attapulgite-Derived Titanium Silicate

Abstract

The development of cellulose-based hydrogels with integrated mechanical robustness, ionic conductivity, and environmental tolerance is critical for advancing wearable electronics. Herein, we report a dual-cross-linked cellulose hydrogel reinforced with attapulgite-derived titanium silicate (ATS). An acid-hydrothermal approach was used to transform attapulgite into ATS. ATS has a porous structure with uniform channels, and it can serve as a physical cross-linker to improve the mechanical robustness of the hydrogel. The as-prepared hydrogel demonstrated a high tensile strength (155 kPa), fracture elongation (177%), and compressive stress (0.58 MPa). Simultaneously, the ATS-engineered porous network facilitates rapid ion transport, yielding a high ionic conductivity of 2.45 S m^-1. When assembled into a strain sensor, the hydrogel can realize the precise detection of human motions. This work provides a sustainable strategy for designing sensors through inorganic filler engineering to tune the mechanical and conductive properties of hydrogels.