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    Advances and Challenges of Hydrogel Materials for Robotic and Sensing Applications
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    • Yi Ouyang
      Yi Ouyang
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
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    • Gaoshan Huang
      Gaoshan Huang
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
      More by Gaoshan Huang
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      Orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0525-7177
    • Jizhai Cui
      Jizhai Cui
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
      More by Jizhai Cui
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    • Hong Zhu
      Hong Zhu
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
      More by Hong Zhu
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    • Guanghui Yan
      Guanghui Yan
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
      More by Guanghui Yan
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    • Yongfeng Mei*
      Yongfeng Mei
      Department of Materials Science & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of China
      Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
      *Email: [email protected]
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      Orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3314-6108
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    Chemistry of Materials

    Cite this: Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 21, 9307–9328
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    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c01960
    Published October 18, 2022
    Copyright © 2022 American Chemical Society
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    Abstract

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    Hydrogels are soft materials composed of a three-dimensional (3D) hydrophilic polymer network filled with a large amount of water. Different from rigid machines, hydrogel-based robots are encoded with energy conversion mechanisms that allow sensing, adaption, transformation, and response in complex environments. In this perspective, we discuss the advances and challenges of hydrogel materials for soft robotic and sensing applications. In the first part, we introduce stimuli-responsive hydrogel sensors that can receive external energy inputs from different stimuli and translate them into in the geometrical, optical, electrical, and biological output signals. Then, we comprehensively discuss the recent development of hydrogel robot systems that exploit the responsive properties to achieve diverse locomotion models and functions. On the basis of the distinct driving force and locomotion mechanisms, we categorize hydrogel robots into two main kinds: one is the active robot that deforms by stimuli-responsive swelling of soft hydrogels, and the other is the passive motor that is propelled by reactive matters. We compare the advantages and challenges of each strategy and show how to transform biomimetic principles into technological capabilities through material and structural designs. We finally provide a critical perspective on the key challenges in the integration of functionality in hydrogel robotic systems and reasonable directions to push hydrogel robots toward diverse applications.

    Copyright © 2022 American Chemical Society

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    This article is cited by 40 publications.

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    Cite this: Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 21, 9307–9328
    Click to copy citationCitation copied!
    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c01960
    Published October 18, 2022
    Copyright © 2022 American Chemical Society
    Request reuse permissions

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