Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

Bioinspired Structural Design Enables Synergistic Toughness and Conductivity in Hydrogels for Advanced Wearable Electronics

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y
Yi Liu
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Xuchen Wang
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Junjie Wang
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Zhuang Li
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Kelong Ao
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Guangwei Liang
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Haiqing Liu
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Qirui Zhang
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Mengjiao Pan
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Dahua Shou
Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Corresponding Author: Dahua Shou

dahua.shou@polyu.edu.hk

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 249

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels are revolutionizing the fields of wearable sensors, implantable bioelectronics, and soft robotics. However, achieving both mechanical robustness and high conductivity within a single system remains challenging. Here, inspired by the cooperative vascular–neural networks in biological tissues, we develop a nanofiber-reinforced conductive hydrogel composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), aramid nanofibers (ANFs), and in situ polymerized PEDOT:PSS. Through solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization, the hydrogel evolves into a bi-continuous architecture in which the mechanical and conductive networks are intimately coupled. The tough, ANF-reinforced porous PVA mimics the vascular system, providing mechanical support and maintaining toughness, while the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) network resembles neural pathways, enabling efficient electron transport. This structural evolution enables a rare synergy of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m−1) with excellent biocompatibility. The hydrogel maintains stable conduction under impact and complex deformation, supporting multimodal sensing from large-amplitude joint motion to low-amplitude electrophysiological signals: electrocardiographic and electromyographic. When integrated with a convolutional neural network, it achieves 99.54% accuracy in recognizing five complex hand gestures. This bioinspired strategy paves the way for developing robust and conductive hydrogels toward next-generation intelligent wearable electronics.


Highlights:
1 A bioinspired design mimicking the cooperative vascular–neural networks in biological tissues was proposed to guide the development of conductive hydrogels.
2 Solvent- and thermally induced structural reorganization enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) crystallinity and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chain alignment, yielding a synergistic combination of high tensile strength (10.72 MPa) and ultrahigh conductivity (452.75 S m−1).
3 The hydrogel ensures stable electrical conduction and reliable multimodal sensing, enabling accurate and electromyographic/electrocardiographic monitoring and 99.54% gesture recognition accuracy.

Keywords

Conductive hydrogel Bioinspired design Mechanical–electrical synergy Wearable electronics Gesture recognition
Liu, Yi, Xuchen Wang, Junjie Wang, Zhuang Li, Kelong Ao, Guangwei Liang, Haiqing Liu, Qirui Zhang, Mengjiao Pan, and Dahua Shou. 2026. “Bioinspired Structural Design Enables Synergistic Toughness and Conductivity in Hydrogels for Advanced Wearable Electronics”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (February):249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02094-y.
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