Electrochemical deactivation of high-strength, catechol-based adhesives incorporated with anhydrous proton and electron conducting elements

Authors

• Han Peng, Michigan Technological University
• Zhongtian Zhang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Vedika Khare, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Abhilash Arjan Das, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Fatemeh Razaviamri, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Kan Wang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Bruce P Lee, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-12-2026

Department

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Abstract

Catechol offers switchable adhesion in response to electrochemical redox reaction. However, electrochemistry requires water for effective proton transport, but water weakens adhesive performance. Here, we incorporate proton and electron conducting elements (sulfonic acid-containing monomer and multiwalled carbon nanotube, respectively) into a water-free catechol-based adhesive to create a high-strength adhesive that is also susceptible to electrochemical control. These additions increase the proton and electrical conductivity by over 100-fold. The adhesive also exhibits elevated lap shear adhesion strength (4.6 MPa) to metal substrates and outperforms a commercial epoxy glue. Under mild electrical stimulation (9 V), the adhesive strength decreases by over 90%. X-ray photon spectroscopy confirms the deactivation of the adhesive is achieved by catechol oxidation to its poorly adhesive quinone form. When the adhesive is used to create two adjacent adhesive joints connected by a single metallic substrate, the adhesive can be selectively deactivated without affecting neighboring joint. These results present a promising approach for switchable adhesives with high adhesive performance and precise electrical control.

Publisher's Statement

© The Author(s) 2026. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-026-01124-x

Publication Title

Communications Materials

Recommended Citation

Peng, H., Zhang, Z., Khare, V., Das, A. A., Razaviamri, F., Wang, K., & Lee, B. (2026). Electrochemical deactivation of high-strength, catechol-based adhesives incorporated with anhydrous proton and electron conducting elements. Communications Materials, 7. http://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-026-01124-x
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2602

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Version

Publisher's PDF