Core–Shell Anti-Swelling Hydrogel

6-month mechanical durability

A one-step soaking process creates a stiff surface 'armor' via multiple weak noncovalent interactions, granting long-term anti-swelling and mechanical stability.

Dou, Xueyu · Wang, Hufei · Yang, Fei · Hong, Shen · Wang, Xing · Wu, Decheng

Advanced Science 2023

Advantages

After soaking in FeCl₃ solution, a shell-structured double-network hydrogel forms

Excellent anti-swelling behavior and mechanical durability for over half a year

Dynamically reversible transition from super-swelling to anti-swelling by adjusting ion species and concentrations