Transparent,\nAntifreezing, Ionic Conductive Cellulose\nHydrogel with Stable Sensitivity at Subzero Temperature

Abstract

Cellulose was dissolved\nin benzyltrimethyl ammonium hydroxide (BzMe₃NOH) aqueous\nsolution, and ionic conductive cellulose hydrogels\n(CCHs) with antifreezing property were directly fabricated by chemical\ncross-linking, without further treatment. The concentrated BzMe₃NOH solution in the CCH matrix endowed the hydrogel with transparency,\nionic conductivity, and freeze tolerance. CCH maintained transparency\nover 90% and stable mechanical properties in the temperatures from\n−27.8 to 62.1 °C. Furthermore, the CCH-based sensors exhibited\nstable sensitivity to tensile strain, compressive pressure, and temperature,\nin a wide temperature range including the subzero temperature, with\na fast responding time and no obvious hysteresis. The present work\nis expected to provide a simple and sustainable pathway to prepare\nan antifreezing soft conductor with multifunctions based on cellulose,\nwhich enables a broad range of potential applications.