This dataset presents a series of multifunctional hydrogels developed using aluminum ion (Al3+) coordination chemistry to enhance self-healing, mechanical strength, and sensing performance. These hydrogels are built from poly(N-δ-acryloyl ornithine) (pAcOrn) monomers and crosslinked with N,N′-bisacryloylcystine (BISS), alongside varying concentrations of Al3+ ions. The aluminum ions interact dynamically with amino acid side chains, introducing reversible coordination bonds that boost the hydrogel's ability to self-repair and maintain structural integrity under repeated stress.
The dataset includes performance metrics for multiple formulations, with BISS concentrations set at 0.4, 0.7, and 1 mol%, and Al3+ contents ranging from 0 to 1.5 wt%. Notably, the hydrogel with 0.7 mol% BISS and 1 wt% Al3+ (pAcOrn–0.7%BISS/1%Al3+) showed outstanding properties: over 900% elongation, breaking strength near 9.5 kPa, and the ability to recover 57.4% of its stress within just 2 minutes after damage. These characteristics were further enhanced using laser irradiation to activate and tune the Al3+–amino acid interactions.
In addition to mechanical resilience, this hydrogel demonstrated promising electrical responsiveness. It showed quick and consistent signal behavior during bending, with response and recovery times of 1200 ms and 1300 ms, respectively. The electrical output correlated linearly with applied strain (R2 = 0.992), and the presence of Al3+ significantly improved the gauge factor, making this system a strong candidate for applications in motion tracking and flexible strain sensors.
Altogether, this dataset offers helpful information regarding the role of aluminum ions in designing tunable, self-healing, and responsive hydrogels. It includes mechanical testing data, recovery performance, strain sensing output, and formulation parameters for each variant.
