Arresting Microphase Separation Encodes Material Mechanics by Sculpting Microarchitectures and Local Polymer Enrichment (Adv. Mater. 20/2026)

Aqueous Two-Phase Encoded Material Mechanics Mechanical properties depend strongly on microarchitecture. Using ATPS, inverse globular, globular, and spinodal hydrogel structures with distinct mechanics are engineered, with spinodal designs showing enhanced load distribution, fracture resistance, and energy dissipation. A new single polymer phase separation (SPPS) approach enables scalable, clean control of hydrogel mechanics through microarchitectural design rather than composition alone. More details can be found in the Research Article by Castro Johnbosco, Floris Dalenoord, Jeroen Leijten, and colleagues (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202512578).