Journal Article

Ionic Double‐Network Hydrogels for Integrated Electromagnetic Shielding and Self‐Powered Sensing in Wearable Electronics

Ding, Yao, Wu, Tianzhao, Zhou, Yonghui, Wang, Zhuoqun, Xu, Jiangtao, Hu, Chuanshuang, Lin, Xiuyi, Wang, Chenchen, Li, Zihua, Zhang, Weiwei

2025

Overview

Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) face dual challenges of high‐frequency electromagnetic interference and functional integration. This work reports a multifunctional material constructed via a double‐network ionic hydrogel strategy, enabling the integrated realization of efficient electromagnetic shielding and self‐powered physiological monitoring. An interpenetrating network skeleton is formed through physical crosslinking of sodium alginate (SA) with Ca2⁺ and in situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM). By regulating the specific coordination of ions to induce directional channels and synergistically regulating salt concentration with hydration, an absorption‐dominated shielding mechanism centered on ion polarization‐interface relaxation is established. The optimized h‐CA‐PAM‐Li⁺‐1.0 hydrogel exhibits an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SET) of 63.75 dB in the X‐band, with absorption loss accounting for over 93%. Leveraging the excellent ionic conductivity of the hydrogel, a self‐powered sensor encapsulated in PDMS films and integrated with wireless modules is fabricated, capable of real‐time capture of physiological signals such as heartbeat while maintaining high sensitivity and anti‐interference capability in dynamic environments. Free of traditional conductive fillers, this material combines biocompatibility, low cost, and designability, providing a material‐device‐system integrated solution for electromagnetic protection and intelligent monitoring of implantable electronic devices and opening a new research paradigm for multifunctional shielding materials. A multifunctional dual network ionic hydrogel is used to address the challenges of EMI and health detection integration for CIEDs. An absorption‐based EMI shielding mechanism is achieved through ion polarization/interfacial relaxation. With an optimal SE of 63.75 dB and absorption loss greater than 93%, the wirelessly integrated self‐powered sensor in a PDMS package captures physiological signals.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: absorption dominance / Biocompatibility / electromagnetic interference shielding / Hydration / Hydrogels / Hydrogen bonds / ionic conductive hydrogel / Medical equipment / Nanomaterials / Physiology / Polyethylene glycol / Polymerization / sensor monitoring / Vibration