Bioinspired Structural Design Enables Synergistic Toughness and Conductivity in Hydrogels for Advanced Wearable Electronics

Yi Liu; Xuchen Wang; Junjie Wang; Zhuang Li; Kelong Ao; Guangwei Liang; Haiqing Liu; Qirui Zhang; Mengjiao Pan; Dahua Shou

doi:10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y

Bioinspired Structural Design Enables Synergistic Toughness and Conductivity in Hydrogels for Advanced Wearable Electronics

Yi Liu
, Xuchen Wang
, Junjie Wang
, Zhuang Li
, Kelong Ao
, Guangwei Liang
, Haiqing Liu
, Qirui Zhang
, Mengjiao Pan
, Dahua Shou (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A bioinspired design mimicking the cooperative vascular–neural networks in biological tissues was proposed to guide the development of conductive hydrogels. Solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) crystallinity and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chain alignment, yielding a synergistic combination of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m⁻¹). The hydrogel ensures stable electrical conduction and reliable multimodal sensing, enabling accurate and electromyographic/electrocardiographic monitoring and 99.54% gesture recognition accuracy.

Original language	English
Article number	249
Journal	Nano-Micro Letters
Volume	18
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y
Publication status	Published - Dec 2026

Keywords

Bioinspired design
Conductive hydrogel
Gesture recognition
Mechanical–electrical synergy
Wearable electronics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

More information

10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y

Cite this

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abstract = "A bioinspired design mimicking the cooperative vascular{\textendash}neural networks in biological tissues was proposed to guide the development of conductive hydrogels. Solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) crystallinity and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chain alignment, yielding a synergistic combination of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m−1). The hydrogel ensures stable electrical conduction and reliable multimodal sensing, enabling accurate and electromyographic/electrocardiographic monitoring and 99.54\% gesture recognition accuracy.",

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author = "Yi Liu and Xuchen Wang and Junjie Wang and Zhuang Li and Kelong Ao and Guangwei Liang and Haiqing Liu and Qirui Zhang and Mengjiao Pan and Dahua Shou",

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AU - Liu, Yi

AU - Wang, Xuchen

AU - Wang, Junjie

AU - Li, Zhuang

AU - Ao, Kelong

AU - Liang, Guangwei

AU - Liu, Haiqing

AU - Zhang, Qirui

AU - Pan, Mengjiao

AU - Shou, Dahua

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PY - 2026/12

Y1 - 2026/12

N2 - A bioinspired design mimicking the cooperative vascular–neural networks in biological tissues was proposed to guide the development of conductive hydrogels. Solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) crystallinity and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chain alignment, yielding a synergistic combination of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m−1). The hydrogel ensures stable electrical conduction and reliable multimodal sensing, enabling accurate and electromyographic/electrocardiographic monitoring and 99.54% gesture recognition accuracy.

AB - A bioinspired design mimicking the cooperative vascular–neural networks in biological tissues was proposed to guide the development of conductive hydrogels. Solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) crystallinity and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chain alignment, yielding a synergistic combination of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m−1). The hydrogel ensures stable electrical conduction and reliable multimodal sensing, enabling accurate and electromyographic/electrocardiographic monitoring and 99.54% gesture recognition accuracy.

KW - Bioinspired design

KW - Conductive hydrogel

KW - Gesture recognition

KW - Mechanical–electrical synergy

KW - Wearable electronics

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DO - 10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y

M3 - Journal article

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JO - Nano-Micro Letters

JF - Nano-Micro Letters

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ER -

Bioinspired Structural Design Enables Synergistic Toughness and Conductivity in Hydrogels for Advanced Wearable Electronics

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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