Decoupling optical and mechanical trade-offs in photonic hydrogels via bioinspired multi-network architecture

Daoming Wang; Xuyang Zou; Xusheng Wang; Guangfu Liao; Kejin Jiang; Shanshan Dong; Han Xu; Jianhua Xiong; Peng Li; Zhenming Chen; Junheng Pan; Hengchong Shi; Qingshan Duan; Shuangfei Wang; Hui Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100265

Volume 11 Issue 3

Jun. 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts > 2026 > 11(3): 100265

Daoming Wang, Xuyang Zou, Xusheng Wang, Guangfu Liao, Kejin Jiang, Shanshan Dong, Han Xu, Jianhua Xiong, Peng Li, Zhenming Chen, Junheng Pan, Hengchong Shi, Qingshan Duan, Shuangfei Wang, Hui Zhao. Decoupling optical and mechanical trade-offs in photonic hydrogels via bioinspired multi-network architecture[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(3): 100265. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100265

Citation:

Daoming Wang, Xuyang Zou, Xusheng Wang, Guangfu Liao, Kejin Jiang, Shanshan Dong, Han Xu, Jianhua Xiong, Peng Li, Zhenming Chen, Junheng Pan, Hengchong Shi, Qingshan Duan, Shuangfei Wang, Hui Zhao. Decoupling optical and mechanical trade-offs in photonic hydrogels via bioinspired multi-network architecture[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(3): 100265. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100265

Citation:

Daoming Wang, Xuyang Zou, Xusheng Wang, Guangfu Liao, Kejin Jiang, Shanshan Dong, Han Xu, Jianhua Xiong, Peng Li, Zhenming Chen, Junheng Pan, Hengchong Shi, Qingshan Duan, Shuangfei Wang, Hui Zhao. Decoupling optical and mechanical trade-offs in photonic hydrogels via bioinspired multi-network architecture[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(3): 100265. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100265

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Decoupling optical and mechanical trade-offs in photonic hydrogels via bioinspired multi-network architecture

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100265

a. School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
b. School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
c. State Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Fiber Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
d. College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
e. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Calcium Carbonate Resources Comprehensive Utilization, College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China;
f. Analytical Testing Centre State-owned Assets and Laboratory Management Office, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
g. State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China

Funds:

This work was supported by Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Program (No. 2025GXNSFFA069012 and GUIKEAB25069342), and State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology (Open Fund Project No PST-KF2025-24).

Received Date: 2026-02-10
Accepted Date: 2026-04-09
Rev Recd Date: 2026-04-02

Available Online: 2026-07-04

Publish Date: 2026-06-01

Abstract

Abstract

The mechanochromic photonic hydrogels based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) face a contradiction between vividness of structural color and mechanical robustness. Inspired by octopus iridophores, a multi-network synergistic strategy was designed to overcome this challenge. A CNC/polyacrylamide/waterborne polyurethane (CPW) composite hydrogel was fabricated through co-assembly, precursor permeation, and thermal polymerization. This approach embedded a glucose-modified CNC (gCNC) chiral template within an interpenetrating elastic matrix, forming a triple network architecture. Dynamic hydrogen bonding endowed remarkable mechanical properties (420 kPa tensile strength, 821% elongation) while preserving structural order. Consequently, the hydrogel achieved reversible color switching from near-infrared to the full visible spectrum upon stretching, with a reflection peak varying from 467 to 670 nm. This work demonstrated its application in customizable information encryption, where encoded patterns are accurately revealed under specific strain with good cyclic durability. It not only provides a special biomimetic paradigm for designing intelligent responsive materials but also marks a key step toward the practical application of bio-based photonic materials in advanced and extreme environments.
- Cellulose nanocrystal,
- Dynamic structural color,
- Mechanochromic material,
- Hydrogel,
- Intelligent encoding

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References(62)

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