Triple-crosslinked self-propelled hydrogel with self-healing properties: preparation and characteristics

A polyacrylic acid hydrogel containing Ce⁴⁺ ions acting as a catalyst for the Belousov--Zhabotinsky reaction with self-healing and self-propelled properties was prepared by a one-pot synthesis. By using cerium ammonium nitrate as a radical polymerization initiator, a significant simplification of the synthesis of stimuliresponsive polymers was achieved. The compressive strain and elastic modulus were calculated to describe the mechanical properties of the hydrogel during compression.