Journal
NATURE MATERIALS
Volume 15, Issue 4, Pages 407-+Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/NMAT4539
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Funding
- National Science Foundation (NSF) through the MRSEC Program [DMR-1121053]
- NSF
- Office of Naval Research [N000141310867]
- US National Institutes of Health [R01DE018468]
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Polyelectrolyte complexation is critical to the formation and properties of many biological and polymeric materials, and is typically initiated by aqueous mixing(1) followed by fluid-fluid phase separation, such as coacervation(2-5). Yet little to nothing is known about how coacervates evolve into intricate solid microarchitectures. Inspired by the chemical features of the cement proteins of the sandcastle worm, here we report a versatile and strong wet-contact microporous adhesive resulting from polyelectrolyte complexation triggered by solvent exchange. After premixing a catechol-functionalized weak polyanion with a polycation in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), the solution was applied underwater to various substrates whereupon electrostatic complexation, phase inversion, and rapid setting were simultaneously actuated by water-DMSO solvent exchange. Spatial and temporal coordination of complexation, inversion and setting fostered rapid (similar to 25 s) and robust underwater contact adhesion (Wad >= 2 Jm(-2)) of complexed catecholic polyelectrolytes to all tested surfaces including plastics, glasses, metals and biological materials.
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