Boron nitride-alginate coordination interactions enabling hydrogels with enhanced mechanical strength and heat resistance

Developing large-scale hydrogels with high tensile strength and robust mechanical properties is an intricate challenge of great industrial significance. In this study, we demonstrate an efficient method for producing nanocomposite hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties. Our approach involves a two-step process: an initial stage of pre-cross-linking boron nitride (BN)-enriched pre-gel sodium alginate, followed by cross-linking with metal ions. In stark contrast to conventional sodium alginate hydrogels (SA), our newly formulated 'BS hydrogel' exhibited an impressive tensile strength exceeding 41 MPa and improved water retention capability with thermal treatment. Moreover, the reconstituted BS hydrogel exhibited tensile strengths ranging from 47 to 96 MPa and elastic moduli ranging from 199 to 1184 MPa, depending on the cross-linking metal ions. These findings indicate the multifaceted potential of the BS hydrogel, which is poised to revolutionize many applications and represents a significant step forward in hydrogel technology for industrial applications.