DMSO-Regulated PVA/Guar Gum Dual-Network Conductive Hydrogel for Wearable Strain Sensing

Abstract Conductive hydrogels are vital components in modern electronics and show great promise for wearable sensors. However, their practical use is often limited by the difficulty of balancing mechanical properties and ionic/electronic conductivity. Herein, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)–regulated polyvinyl alcohol/guar gum (PVA/GG) dual-network conductive hydrogel (D-PVA/GG) was developed. The pre-shielding of intramolecular hydrogen bonds by DMSO induces extended polymer chain conformations, promoting the formation of a robust network and increasing the availability of hydrated hydroxyl groups. This mechanism significantly enhances both the mechanical performance and ionic conductivity of D-PVA/GG. Consequently, D-PVA/GG achieves a tensile strength of 3.82 MPa and a fracture strain of 815%. This strain is five times that of pure PVA hydrogels. D-PVA/GG also attained a conductivity of 1.66 S/m. These results demonstrate the synergistic optimization of the mechanical strength and conductivity. As a wearable sensor, D-PVA/GG can effectively monitor human motions in real time.