3D printable ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel sensor with robust water binding property at low temperatures

Zhengyu Zhou; Xiaoqing Du; Jie Huang; Minxiao Lai; Yuqi Song; Wenjie Zong; Qi Chen; Qiqi Zhou; Chunfeng Hu; Qingguo Feng; Min Wu; Man Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100285

Volume 11 Issue 4

Aug. 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts > 2026 > 11(4): 100285

Zhengyu Zhou, Xiaoqing Du, Jie Huang, Minxiao Lai, Yuqi Song, Wenjie Zong, Qi Chen, Qiqi Zhou, Chunfeng Hu, Qingguo Feng, Min Wu, Man Jiang. 3D printable ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel sensor with robust water binding property at low temperatures[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100285. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100285

Citation:

Zhengyu Zhou, Xiaoqing Du, Jie Huang, Minxiao Lai, Yuqi Song, Wenjie Zong, Qi Chen, Qiqi Zhou, Chunfeng Hu, Qingguo Feng, Min Wu, Man Jiang. 3D printable ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel sensor with robust water binding property at low temperatures[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100285. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100285

Citation:

Zhengyu Zhou, Xiaoqing Du, Jie Huang, Minxiao Lai, Yuqi Song, Wenjie Zong, Qi Chen, Qiqi Zhou, Chunfeng Hu, Qingguo Feng, Min Wu, Man Jiang. 3D printable ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel sensor with robust water binding property at low temperatures[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100285. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100285

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3D printable ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel sensor with robust water binding property at low temperatures

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100285

a School of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China;
b Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, CA 91311, United States;
c School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China;
d Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Funds:

The authors acknowledge the financial support from Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2682024CX128

No. 2682024JX002), Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau (No. 2025-YF05-00626-SN) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52278220).

Received Date: 2026-04-29
Accepted Date: 2026-07-20
Rev Recd Date: 2026-07-14

Available Online: 2026-09-01

Publish Date: 2026-08-01

Abstract

Abstract

Conductive hydrogel sensors are pivotal for next-generation flexible wearable devices. However, conventional hydrogels suffer from limitations such as insufficient low temperature tolerance, mechanical robustness, and biocompatibility. Herein, a binary molten salt hydrate (MSH) consisting of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and lithium bromide (LiBr) has been found to efficiently dissolve natural cellulose for synthesis of ionically conductive hydrogel with robust water binding property. The conductive cellulose hydrogel achieved surpassing ionic conductivity of 4.48 S/m, impressive compressive strength of 2.48 MPa, and excellent sensing performance. Molecular simulations disclosed the synergistic effect of lithium and zinc ions in cellulose dissolving and stabilization of the cellulose solution by forming robust water binding performance under low temperatures. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed no exothermic peaks associated with water crystallization over the temperature range from -80 to 20 ℃. Furthermore, shear-thinning characteristics of the conductive hydrogel under room temperature make it 3D printable for fabricating customized complex geometries. This work provides a binary molten salt system for facile processing of flexible wearable sensors from cellulose with mechanical robustness, biocompatibility.
- Ionically conductive cellulose hydrogel,
- Molten salt hydrate,
- Wearable flexible sensor,
- Anti-freezing

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References(60)

References

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