journal article·2025-02Open access

PEDOTs‐Based Conductive Hydrogels: Design, Fabrications, and Applications

Hai Li, Jie Cao, Rongtai Wan, Vivian Rachel Feig, Christina M. Tringides, Jingkun Xu, Hyunwoo Yuk, Baoyang Lu

Advanced Materials· Volume 37· Issue 7

Abstract

Abstract Conductive hydrogels combine the benefits of soft hydrogels with electrical conductivity and have gained significant attention over the past decade. These innovative materials, including poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOTs)‐based conductive hydrogels (P‐CHs), are promising for flexible electronics and biological applications due to their tunable flexibility, biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity. Despite the recent advances, the intrinsic correlation between the design, fabrications, and applications of P‐CHs has been mostly based on trial‐and‐error‐based Edisonian approaches, significantly limiting their further development. This review comprehensively examines the design strategies, fabrication technologies, and diverse applications of P‐CHs. By summarizing design strategies, such as molecular, network, phase, and structural engineering, and exploring both 2D and 3D fabrication techniques, this review offers a comprehensive overview of P‐CHs applications in diverse fields including bioelectronics, soft actuators, energy devices, and solar evaporators. Establishing this critical internal connection between design, fabrication, and application aims to guide future research and stimulate innovation in the field of functional P‐CHs, offering broad benefits to multidisciplinary researchers.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Conducting polymers and applications · Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang Jiangxi 330013 P. R. China

Department of Mechanical Engineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA

Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering Neuroengineering Initiative (NEl) Rice University Houston TX 77005 USA

School of Water Resources & Environmental Engineering East China University of Technology Nanchang Jiangxi 330013 P. R. China

Department of Mechanical Engineering Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province · Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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