Stretchable Conductive Hydrogel Materials for Flexible Sensors and Bioelectronics

Dear Colleagues,

Stretchable conductive hydrogels represent a class of emerging materials that uniquely integrate electrical conductivity of traditional conductors with mechanical flexibility and biocompatibility of hydrogels. These materials have garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly in the development of flexible sensors and bioelectronic devices. Owing to their high water content, tunable mechanical properties, and soft tissue-like elasticity, conductive hydrogels can establish intimate and stable interfaces with biological tissues, thereby minimizing mechanical mismatch and enhancing signal fidelity in physiological monitoring applications. Moreover, their intrinsic stretchability allows them to accommodate dynamic deformations, such as bending, twisting, and stretching, which are commonly encountered in wearable and implantable systems. Through the incorporation of conductive fillers—such as carbon-based nanomaterials, metal nanowires, or intrinsically conductive polymers—hydrogels can be endowed with robust electrical pathways without compromising their softness. This synergistic combination of properties positions stretchable conductive hydrogels as promising candidates for next-generation biointegrated electronics, enabling applications ranging from electrophysiological signal acquisition to on-skin human–machine interfaces.

We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yanchao Mao
Guest Editor

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• stretchable conductive hydrogels
• flexible sensors
• bioelectronic devices
• mechanical flexibility
• physiological monitoring