Citation

Sen Liu, Heng Zhan, Peiyi Wu* and Zhouyue Lei*. Underwater-Stable Conductive Hydrogels: From Molecular Design to Next-Generation Aquatic Sensors​. Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 571-582.

Abatract

Global priorities in ocean sustainability and biomedical innovation are accelerating the pursuit of materials that can sustain precise and adaptive sensing in complex aqueous environments. As nations invest heavily in marine technology and digital healthcare, underwater perception and communication are emerging as core capabilities for next-generation intelligent systems. Meeting these demands requires materials that can endure dynamic ion-rich conditions while replicating the softness, adaptability, and responsive-ness of biological tissues. Within this context, conductive hydrogels, as a distinctive class of smart polymers, have emerged as essential building blocks for polymer composites capable of multifunctional sensing across marine and physiological environments. Their unique combination of hydrated ion transport, electronic tunability, and tissue-like mechanics enables seamless coupling between electronic systems and biological or fluidic interfaces. However, conventional hydrogels suffer from intrinsic instability, including excessive swelling and conductive-filler leaching, which compromise both mechanical robustness and signal fidelity. Recent advances in water-resistant hydrogels have overcome these limitations through molecular and structural innovations. Hydrophobic modification, reinforced crosslinking, and hierarchical interpenetrating networks have yielded materials with exceptional anti-swelling stability and long-term conductivity under saline and high-pressure conditions. Moreover, the stabilization of conductive interfaces via covalent anchoring, zwitterionic coordination, and hybrid ion–electron conduction ensures reliable signal transmission in dynamic underwater environments. These advances have enabled durable aquatic sensors for underwater motion tracking, physiological monitoring, and environmental perception. Beyond individual achievements, the field is evolving toward intelligent, integrated systems. The next generation of smart polymer sensors will feature multimodal perception, self-healing, biodegradability, and AI-assisted signal interpretation, enabling autonomous adaptation in complex aquatic environments. Looking forward, the fusion of polymer chemistry, bio-inspired materials design, and data-driven intelligence is expected to reshape underwater electronics into a new paradigm, where soft, sustainable, and perceptive hydrogel-based composites serve as the material backbone of future oceanic and biomedical technologies.