Multifunctional Conductive Hydrogels and Their Applications

Submission Deadline: 31 March 2025 View: 562 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. Baoyang Lu

Email: lby1258@163.com

Affiliation: Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China

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Research Interests: Conductive hydrogels, high-performance conductive polymer, integration technologies for processing, function architecture and device integration, advance additive manufacturing including 3D printing, ink-jet printing and lithography technology, the application of novel conductive polymer materials in bioelectronics, electrochromism, thermoelectric conversion and other related fields.

Dr. Yu Xue

Email: xueyu_1994@126.com

Affiliation: Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China

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Research Interests: Functional hydrogel, high-performance conducting polymer new materials and the processing integration technology, and the application of hydrogel materials in biointerface, bioelectronics, and other fields.

Summary

Multifunctional conductive hydrogels offer a wide range of potential applications in fields such as bioelectronics, flexible sensors, flexible displays, energy devices, luminescence devices, wearable devices, medical devices, and more. This versatility is due to their tunable physical and chemical properties, mechanical flexibility, tissue-like Young's modulus, excellent biocompatibility, and advanced processability. However, despite their potential,  conductive hydrogels face several challenges. Their single-function nature often leads to a lack of synergy between electrical and mechanical properties, and they typically exhibit poor adhesion. These limitations make it difficult to meet practical application demands. Furthermore, traditional processing methods fall short when it comes to customized design, leaving multifunctional conductive hydrogels with a range of challenges that need to be addressed for broader practical use.

In this special issue, we will explore in depth three major themes: the design of multifunctional conductive hydrogels, the development of advanced processing methods, and the alignment of these materials with specific application requirements.

(1) Conductive hydrogel design: This theme will examine strategies for developing hydrogels that exhibit both excellent electrical and mechanical properties while integrating additional functionalities, such as self-healing, seamless adhesion, stimuli responsiveness, and bioactivity.

(2) Advanced processing methods: This section will explore advanced processing methods, such as 3D printing, electrospinning, screen printing, and microfluidics, that offer greater control over the structural and functional properties of hydrogels.

(3) Application requirements: This theme will focus on identifying and addressing the critical parameters that determine the performance, durability, and reliability of conductive hydrogels in targeted applications such as bioelectronics, flexible sensors, wearable devices, and medical technologies.

Conductive hydrogels are set to be pivotal in the evolution of flexible electronics, driving innovation and future developments. This special issue proposal aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the systematic progression from material design to application, emphasizing the importance of seamless stitching and integration. Our objective is to deepen researchers' understanding of conductive hydrogels in flexible electronics and offer valuable insights for future practical applications.

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Published Papers