Polyelectrolyte Gels: Fundamentals, Fabrication and Applications

Abstract

Polyelectrolyte gels are an important class of polymer gels and a versatile platform with charged polymer networks with ionisable groups. They have drawn significant recent attention as a class of smart material and have demonstrated potential for a variety of applications. This review begins with the fundamentals of polyelectrolyte gels, which encompass various classifications (i.e., origin, charge, shape) and crucial aspects (ionic conductivity and stimuli responsiveness). It further centralises recent developments of polyelectrolyte gels, emphasising their synthesis, structure–property relationships and responsive properties. Sequentially, this review demonstrates how polyelectrolyte gels’ flourishing properties create attractiveness to a range of applications including tissue engineering, drug delivery, actuators and bioelectronics. Finally, the review outlines the indisputable appeal, further improvements and emerging trends in polyelectrolyte gels.

Poly(vinyl pyridine) and Its Quaternized Derivatives: Understanding Their Solvation and Solid State Properties

“…Quaternized nitrogen involving polymers are a class of highly functional macromolecules that exhibit the properties of conventional polymers and an enhanced sensitivity towards the external environment due to the existing charges, e.g., solvent polarity, pH [ 1 , 2 ]. They can be classified in the broader class of polyelectrolytes (PEL) [ 3 ], displaying dual behavior and combining the properties of both polymers and electrolytes [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Unique properties are derived from their distinct nature, such as excellent water solubility, strong binding interactions with oppositely charged surfaces and molecules as well as a notable solvation and swelling behavior.…”

Advanced supramolecular design for direct ink writing of soft materials

“…Supramolecular network formation by polycations and polyanions is highly dependent on the dielectric constant of solvents. 129 Zhu et al designed a shear-thinning electrostatic hydrogel via the ionic interactions between two polyelectrolytes (Fig. 8(a)).…”

Weak Polyelectrolytes as Nanoarchitectonic Design Tools for Functional Materials: A Review of Recent Achievements

“…Processing weak polyelectrolyte into gels and vectors has been a very active research field for the past few decades. A range of approaches yielding prominently biosourced single-polyelectrolyte gels have been proposed based on precipitation/coagulation through H-bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and crosslinking through reactions with either ionic or covalent crosslinkers [ 152 , 153 ]. Although this research will not be covered in this review, recently published works are highlighted for further reading on this topic [ 154 , 155 , 156 ].…”