Dopamine-Triggered Hydrogels with High Transparency, Self-Adhesion, and Thermoresponse as Skinlike Sensors

Abstract

poor adhesion), as well as limited sensation performances. Here, we report a dopamine-triggered gelation (DTG) strategy for fabricating mussel-inspired, transparent, and conductive hydrogels. The DTG design leverages on the dual functions of dopamine, which serves as both polymerization initiator and dynamic mediator to elaborate and orchestrate the cross-linking networks of hydrogels, allowing for pronounced adhesion, robust elasticity, self-healing ability, excellent injectability and three-dimensional printability, reversible and tunable transparent-opaque transition, and thermoresponsive feature. These preferable performances enable DTG hydrogels as self-adhesive, flexible skinlike sensors for achieving multiple sensations toward pressure, strain, and temperature, even an extraordinary visual perception effect, making it a step closer in the exploration of future biomimetic skin.