Liquid-in-liquid printing of 3D and mechanically tunable conductive hydrogels

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels require tunable mechanical properties, high conductivity and complicated 3D structures for advanced functionality in (bio)applications. Here, we report a straightforward strategy to construct 3D conductive hydrogels by programable printing of aqueous inks rich in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) inside of oil. In this liquid-in-liquid printing method, assemblies of PEDOT:PSS colloidal particles originating from the aqueous phase and polydimethylsiloxane surfactants from the other form an elastic film at the liquid-liquid interface, allowing trapping of the hydrogel precursor inks in the designed 3D nonequilibrium shapes for subsequent gelation and/or chemical cross-linking. Conductivities up to 301 S m ⁻¹ are achieved for a low PEDOT:PSS content of 9 mg mL ⁻¹ in two interpenetrating hydrogel networks. The effortless printability enables us to tune the hydrogels’ components and mechanical properties, thus facilitating the use of these conductive hydrogels as electromicrofluidic devices and to customize near-field communication (NFC) implantable biochips in the future.

Abstract

Three-dimensional conductive hydrogels have promise in bioelectronics, yet achieving the desired conductivity and mechanical properties in 3D structured hydrogels is challenging. Here, the authors report a liquid-in-liquid 3D printing process for preparation of desirable PEDOT:PSS hydrogels.