Sustainable Snail‐Inspired Bio‐Based Adhesives with Ultra‐High Adhesion
Qiuwen Zhu, Rui Li, Yiyang Yan, Yuxuan Huang, Hang Su, Yutian Dong, Xihao Pan, Wei Sun, XiaoZhao Wang, Hongxu Meng, Rong Wang, Hongwei Ouyang, Yi Hong
Abstract
Abstract Adhesives play a crucial role in modern everyday applications, prompting a growing environmental consciousness regarding their source, composition, utilization, and disposal. Sustainability concerns are frequently generated due to the complex or energy‐intensive manufacturing processes in the production of conventional water‐based adhesives. Here, a coacervate‐based snail‐inspired solvent‐free adhesive (SFA) is engineered by strategically modulating electrostatic interactions and molecular entanglement of two polypeptides under environmentally friendly conditions. The SFA has a record‐breaking adhesion strength of 28 MPa on ceramics, setting a new standard for bio‐based adhesives. The SFA demonstrates robust adhesion performance across a wide temperature ranging from −150 to 300 °C and allows for reusability without compromising adhesion properties. Moreover, it can be easily removed using a non‐toxic alkaline solution. The study presents a promising opportunity for developing high‐performance, reusable adhesives made from renewable materials suitable for industrial applications, relics repair, and even spacecraft processing.