Reversibly Sticking Metals and Graphite to Hydrogels and Tissues

We have discovered that hard, electrical conductors (e.g., metals or graphite) can be adhered to soft, aqueous materials (e.g., hydrogels, fruit, or animal tissue) without the use of an adhesive. The adhesion is induced by a low DC electric field. As an example, when 5 V DC is applied to graphite slabs spanning a tall cylindrical gel of acrylamide (AAm), a strong adhesion develops between the anode (+) and the gel in about 3 min. This adhesion endures after the field is removed, and we term it as hard–soft electroadhesion or EAHS. Depending on the material, adhesion occurs at the anode (+), cathode (−), or both electrodes. In many cases, EAHS can be reversed by reapplying the field with reversed polarity. Adhesion via EAHS to AAm gels follows the electrochemical series: e.g., it occurs with copper, lead, and tin but not nickel, iron, or zinc. We show that EAHS arises via electrochemical reactions that generate chemical bonds between the electrode and the polymers in the gel. EAHS can create new hybrid materials, thus enabling applications in robotics, energy storage, and biomedical implants. Interestingly, EAHS can even be achieved underwater, where typical adhesives cannot be used.