One-step mild preparation of tough and thermo-reversible poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels induced by small molecules

To overcome shortcomings of the traditional freeze-thaw method for PVA hydrogel preparation, we develop a one-step mild method, which induces PVA crystallization to form hydrogels through small molecules containing hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The obtained hydrogels showed high mechanical properties, untypical plasticity with short gelation time and repeatable sol-gel transformation.

Automated summary

A one-step mild method for preparing PVA hydrogels, inducing PVA crystallization through small molecules containing hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, has been developed to overcome shortcomings of the traditional freeze-thaw method. The obtained hydrogels exhibit high mechanical properties, atypical plasticity, short gelation time, and repeatable sol-gel transformation.