Graphene oxide and hyperbranched polymer-toughened hydrogels with improved absorption properties and durability

Hyperbranched polymers or/and graphene oxide nanosheets were used to synthesize poly(acrylic acid)-based hybrid hydrogels with high water absorption ability, excellent mechanical properties, and environmental remediation abilities through a novel one-step, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method. The combination of hyperbranched polymers and graphene oxide nanosheets had synergistic effects on the final hybrid hydrogel, especially on the mechanical behaviors of the hydrogels, with Young’s modulus, tensile strength at break and elongation at break increasing by 69, 308, and 848 %, respectively, while the other properties remained similar to those of pure poly(acrylic acid). The proposed enhancement mechanism is also discussed.