Anisotropically Conductive Hydrogels with Directionally Aligned PEDOT:PSS in a PVA Matrix.

Electrical anisotropy, which is characterized by the efficient transmission of electrical signals in specific directions, is prevalent in both natural and engineered systems. However, traditional anisotropically conductive materials are often rigid and dry, thus limiting their utility in applications aiming for the seamless integration of various technologies with biological tissues. In the present study, we introduce a method for precisely controlling the microstructures of conductive and insulating polymers to create highly anisotropically conductive composite hydrogels.

Swelling kinetics of constrained hydrogel spheres.

A cross-linked polymer network immersed in a solvent will absorb molecules from its surroundings, leading to transient swelling. Under the constraint of a semi-permeable membrane, the system will swell less and generate a larger internal pressure in return, a system rarely analyzed to date. We use a nonlinear poroelastic theory to model the kinetics of swelling under mechanical constraint.

Hydrogel-based strong and fast actuators by electroosmotic turgor pressure.

Hydrogels are promising as materials for soft actuators because of qualities such as softness, transparency, and responsiveness to stimuli. However, weak and slow actuations remain challenging as a result of low modulus and osmosis-driven slow water diffusion, respectively. We used turgor pressure and electroosmosis to realize a strong and fast hydrogel-based actuator.