High-strength, anti-freezing and recyclable soy protein isolate/poly(vinyl alcohol) gels empowered by deep eutectic solvent-augmented Hofmeister effect

Key Points

• The aim is to create tough hydrogels using the Hofmeister effect for applications in flexible electronics.
• Utilized deep eutectic solvents to augment the Hofmeister effect
• Formed hydrogels by integrating soy protein isolate and poly(vinyl alcohol)
• Investigated phase behavior and mechanical properties of the gels
• Hydrogels exhibited high strength and resistance to freezing
• Demonstrated stable performance without phase separation in high salt conditions
• Supported potential use in flexible electronic devices