A Bioinspired Cellulosic Elastomer with Ultrahigh Robustness Enabled by Structure-Induced Reconstruction for Impact Protection

Abstract

Elastomers that combine high strength, exceptional toughness, self-healing capability, and scalable processability remain difficult to achieve. Here, we report a leech-inspired cellulosic elastomer constructed from cellulose, diatomite, and polyacrylamide through ethanol-induced structural reconstruction. The resulting bioinspired elastomer exhibits enhanced mechanical performance and efficient energy dissipation, with nearly complete compressive recoverability, a compressive strength above 90 MPa, and a load-bearing capacity exceeding 160,000 times its own weight. The elastomer further demonstrates high resistance to static puncture and dynamic impact, with a puncture resistance energy of 304.22 mJ and an impact toughness of 28.62 MJ m−3, while maintaining self-healing capability without thermal treatment and tolerance to ultralow temperatures down to −196 °C. In addition, the elastomer is compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing and can be produced at the meter scale at a low cost. This work offers a scalable strategy for fabricating robust elastomers with potential applications in advanced impact protection and emerging soft technologies.