High Anti-Swelling Zwitterion-Based Hydrogel with Merit Stretchability and Conductivity for Motion Detection and Information Transmission

Hydrogel sensors show unique advantages in underwater detection, ocean monitoring, and human–computer interaction because of their excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and environmental adaptability. However, due to the water environment, hydrogels will dissolve to a certain extent, resulting in insufficient mechanical strength, poor long-term stability, and signal interference. In this paper, a double-network structure was constructed by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly([2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]7 dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide) (PSBMA). The resultant PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel demonstrated notable swelling resistance, a property attributable to the incorporation of non-covalent interactions (electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding) through the addition of phytic acid (PA). The hydrogel exhibited high stretchability (maximum tensile strength up to 304 kPa), high conductivity (5.8 mS/cm), and anti-swelling (only 1.8% swelling occurred after 14 days of immersion in artificial seawater). Assembled as a sensor, it exhibited high strain sensitivity (0.77), a low detection limit (1%), and stable electrical properties after multiple tensile cycles. The utilization of PVA/PSBMA-PA hydrogel as a wearable sensor shows promise for detecting human joint movements, including those of the fingers, wrists, elbows, and knees. Due to the excellent resistance to swelling, the PVA/PSBMA-PA-based sensors are also suitable for underwater applications, enabling the detection of underwater mannequin motion. This study proposes an uncomplicated and pragmatic methodology for producing hydrogel sensors suitable for use within subaquatic environments, thereby concomitantly broadening the scope of applications for wearable electronic devices.