Antifreezing gels
are promising in diverse engineering applications
such as structural soft matters, sensors, and wearable devices. However,
the capability of fast self-healing and reversible adhesiveness still
remain a huge challenge for gels at extreme temperatures. Here, we
proposed a solvent-involved cross-linking system composed of polyacrylic
acid, polyvinyl alcohol, borax, ethylene glycol, and water, capable
of antifreezing below −90 °C. It was not only antifreezing,
anticrystalline, and abundant in dynamic bonds but also highly transparent,
stretchable (over 800%), and conductive over the scope of temperature
from −60 to 60 °C. Moreover, this gel could self-heal
within 1 min and repeatedly adhere to multiple substrates including
glass, metal, and rubber with an adhesive strength greater than 18
kPa. These key functions of the gel could be mostly preserved after
5 days of storage at 70% relative humidity. It is anticipated that
our research opens a new scope for high-performance extreme environment-tolerant
adhesives or wearable devices.
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