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Applications of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels in Renewable Energy: A Review
Xuan Song1,2, Xiaoguang Dong1, Hao Liu3
1Sinopower New Material Science and Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China.
Chemsuschem
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are key for renewable energy, offering tunable properties for solar power, energy storage, and smart grids. This review details their design, applications, and future potential in sustainable energy technologies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Surging global demand for renewable energy necessitates advanced materials.
- Stimuli-responsive hydrogels offer unique properties like tunable responses, high water content, and design flexibility.
- These hydrogels are emerging as a significant research area for energy applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically introduce molecular and structural design strategies for stimuli-responsive hydrogels.
- To comprehensively review the application progress of these hydrogels in emerging energy technologies.
- To analyze current challenges and explore future development directions for hydrogels in sustainable energy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of molecular and structural design strategies for stimuli-responsive hydrogels.
- Comprehensive literature survey on hydrogel applications in solar utilization, energy storage/conversion, and intelligent energy management.
- Analysis of challenges and future prospects based on current research trends and sustainable development needs.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of diverse stimulus-responsive mechanisms and design principles for hydrogels.
- Demonstrated applications of stimuli-responsive hydrogels in sustainable solar energy harvesting, advanced energy storage systems, and intelligent energy management solutions.
- Identification of key challenges hindering widespread adoption and promising future research avenues.
Conclusions:
- Stimuli-responsive hydrogels hold significant potential for advancing renewable energy technologies.
- Further research into high-performance hydrogel development is crucial for enhancing their application in the new energy field.
- This review provides essential references for future advancements in hydrogel materials and sustainable energy solutions.
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