Stimuli-Responsive Conductive Polymers for Bioelectronics

Stimuli response, or the ability to respond to environmental cues with changes in behavior, is omnipresent in living systems. Inspiration from this natural behavior has led to the development of polymers that respond to external stimuli (e.g., light, chemical, and temperature) with physical changes such as tunable mechanical properties, swelling–deswelling behavior, precipitation, and sol–gel or solid–gel transitions. Recently, the incorporation of stimuli response into conductive systems has emerged as a new field of study with applications in bioelectronics for signal recording, stimulation, neuromorphic devices, and actuators. In this Perspective, we highlight recent discoveries in stimuli-responsive conductive polymers and composites. We discuss the various types of stimuli that have been combined with conductive polymers, such as voltage, light, and heat, with emphasis on molecular design, performance, and ongoing challenges. Finally, we provide insights into future directions for the development of stimuli-responsive conductive polymers and their applications in bioelectronics.