Stimuli-Responsive Toughening of Hydrogels

Materials with stimuli-switchable properties are widespread in nature. Through biomimicry, stimuli-responsive hydrogels have received increasing research recent years. In particular, stimuli-tunable mechanical provide an important platform for designing new materials specific applications such as 3D printing, soft robot, and tunable adhesion. Herein, the state-of-the-art of toughness is reviewed detail. Characteristic reinforcement mechanisms fully discussed first, followed by systematical demonstrations various smart responding to stimuli. special attention paid thermal, light, pH, salt triggers because their broad easy implementation. Furthermore, these included. addition overview advances, we finally summarize critical challenges current discoveries make outlook following work, which anticipate lead substantial progress responsive future.