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Near Infrared-Programmed In Situ Mechanical Reconfiguration of Adhesive Hydrogels for Pressure Distribution
Zhenyi Wu1, Xiaoyong Zhang1, Fan Li1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology , Huainan, Anhui232001, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a near-infrared light-responsive hydrogel with dynamic bonds. This material offers tunable stiffness, enhanced adhesion, and precise spatial control for advanced soft robotics and interactive sensors.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Robotics
Background:
- Soft actuators often lack a combination of mechanical toughness, tunable properties, and reliable adhesion.
- Existing responsive materials face trade-offs between stiffness and actuation capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties and enhanced adhesion.
- To demonstrate the hydrogel's potential in bionic actuators, sensors, and soft robotic systems.
Main Methods:
- Integration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) chains for resilience and boronic ester bonds for dynamic crosslinking.
- Utilizing NIR light to trigger photothermal cleavage of dynamic bonds, altering mechanical properties and surface adhesion.
- Fabrication of a 4x4 spatial pressure sensor array for tactile feedback.
Main Results:
- Achieved a balance between high initial stiffness and on-demand dynamic actuation.
- Demonstrated enhanced interfacial adhesion up to 48 kPa on aluminum surfaces.
- Successfully implemented the hydrogel in human motion detection, Morse code communication, and robotic manipulation tasks.
Conclusions:
- The developed hydrogel offers a versatile platform for programmable soft materials.
- This technology enables advancements in smart interfaces, human-machine interaction, and adaptive soft robotics.
