Thermoresponsive ionic liquid (TRIL) based hydrogels design, properties, and sensing applications
Thermoresponsive hydrogels that exhibit reversible transparency changes in response to temperature variations have attracted increasing attention for applications in drug delivery, soft robotics, sensing, and microfluidic systems. Recent studies have shown that thermoresponsive monomeric ionic liquids (ILs) can be polymerized into hydrogels to form thermoresponsive poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) networks. Motivated by the tunability and emerging potential of LCST-type ionic liquids, Xia Qiu explored the design of thermoresponsive hydrogels based on LCST-IL systems.
However, the development of multifunctional wearable devices imposes stringent requirements that conventional thermoresponsive hydrogels often fail to meet. The weak mechanical strength and poor conductivity of these materials limit broader applications, while their sensitivity to deformation further affects their reliability. In her thesis, Qiu addresses these challenges by exploring several hydrogel systems that integrate thermoresponsive ionic liquids, natural polymer components, and dynamic crosslinking strategies to enhance mechanical robustness, functionality, and stability.
Finally, Qiu developed a multifunctional thermoresponsive hydrogel featuring antifreezing capability, self-healing behavior, strong adhesion, optical tunability, degradability, and reliable strain-sensing performance. The thermoresponsive hydrogels designed by Qiu demonstrate a versatile strategy for constructing intelligent hydrogel systems that integrate environmental adaptability with multifunctional sensing and information encryption capabilities. These materials exhibit significant potential for applications in electronic skins, smart monitoring systems, human–machine interfaces, and secure communication technologies, while also providing valuable insights for the development of sustainable and intelligent soft electronic materials.