Gel-Based Materials for Intelligent Sensors and Self-Powered Nanogenerators

Dear Colleagues,

With the recent advances in “gel-type” soft and stretchable electronics, scientists have created innovative devices that can sense “smartly” while functioning as self-powered nanogenerators. “Gel-type” soft polymer composites can integrate a polymeric gel matrix with embedded electrically conducting fillers and exhibit mechanical stretchability and electrical conductivity. This makes them useful for various engineering applications, including wearable technology, soft robotics, smart sensors, and self-powered nanogenerators. The polymer gel matrix provides soft and flexible frameworks such as hydrogels; ionogels; organogels; and soft elastomers such as silicone rubber. Electrically conducting fillers include graphene, carbon nanotubes, MXenes, etc. As intelligent sensors, these soft materials can conform to various shapes, respond to mechanical deformation, and enable real-time monitoring. Their application as gel sensors requires the gel-type soft polymer composite to possess various properties, including high sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, flexibility, self-healing, and biocompatibility. Similarly, self-powered nanogenerators also exhibit various configurations, including enhanced energy harvesting efficiency, sustainable power, the Internet of Things, and finally, integrated smart systems.   

This Special Issue aims to present the latest research, from both academics and industrial professionals, on gel-type soft polymer composite materials. The key topics of this Special Issue include the following:

• Gel-type soft polymer composites such as hydrogels, ionogels, organogels, and soft elastomers.
• Factors related to soft composites, such as mechanical behavior, electrical–thermal conductivity, self-healing mechanisms, and biocompatibility.
• Factors related to intelligent sensing, such as sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, flexibility, stretchability, shape conformation, and real-time monitoring.
• Factors related to self-powered nanogenerators, such as energy conversion efficiency, piezo-triboelectric coefficients, sustainable power sources, and the Internet of Things.

Dr. Vineet Kumar
Dr. Sang-Shin Park
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• ionogels, organogels, and soft elastomers
• carbon nanomaterials
• smart sensing
• self-powered nanogenerators
• Internet of Things
• real-time monitoring