From hydrogels to eutectogels: Emerging platforms for stretchable electronics

Abstract The transition of wearable electronics from rigid components to skin‐interfaced systems has driven the search for materials that mimic the mechanical compliance of biological tissues. While hydrogels offer tissue‐like softness, their inevitable dehydration limits long‐term stability and functionality. Eutectogels, formed by immobilizing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) within polymer networks, have emerged as a robust alternative that overcomes these volatility issues while retaining intrinsic ionic conductivity and biocompatibility. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap of the eutectogel platform, starting from the fundamental chemistry of DESs to the design strategies for crosslinked polymer architectures. We analyze how specific fabrication methods tailor critical properties such as environmental tolerance, interfacial adhesion, and mechanical resilience. These material attributes enable a diverse range of applications, including high‐sensitivity strain sensing, electrophysiological monitoring, and advanced human‐machine interfaces. Beyond current capabilities, we critically examine the translational challenges facing the field, particularly the trade‐off between ionic conductivity and structural integrity. The discussion extends to emerging opportunities that will define the next generation of eutectogels, specifically the integration of artificial intelligence for data‐driven material discovery and signal interpretation, the adoption of three‐dimensional printing for customized manufacturing, and the development of fully recyclable networks to ensure life‐cycle sustainability.

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Publication Details

Journal
FlexMat.
Published
2026-04-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/flm2.70075
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

From hydrogels to eutectogels: Emerging platforms for stretchable electronics

Yidong Peng, Yinghao Huang, Jiancheng Dong, Hao Qiu et al.
FlexMat.
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
article

From hydrogels to eutectogels: Emerging platforms for stretchable electronics

Yidong Peng, Yinghao Huang, Jiancheng Dong, Hao Qiu, Haoran Liu, Haijun Zhu, Kangjia Geng, Yuduo Zhang, Mengting Zheng, Xu Zhang, Xingyu Liu, Tianxi Liu, Jiayu Hou, Shiyin Lin, Chang Zhou
article en

Abstract

Abstract The transition of wearable electronics from rigid components to skin‐interfaced systems has driven the search for materials that mimic the mechanical compliance of biological tissues. While hydrogels offer tissue‐like softness, their inevitable dehydration limits long‐term stability and functionality. Eutectogels, formed by immobilizing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) within polymer networks, have emerged as a robust alternative that overcomes these volatility issues while retaining intrinsic ionic conductivity and biocompatibility. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap of the eutectogel platform, starting from the fundamental chemistry of DESs to the design strategies for crosslinked polymer architectures. We analyze how specific fabrication methods tailor critical properties such as environmental tolerance, interfacial adhesion, and mechanical resilience. These material attributes enable a diverse range of applications, including high‐sensitivity strain sensing, electrophysiological monitoring, and advanced human‐machine interfaces. Beyond current capabilities, we critically examine the translational challenges facing the field, particularly the trade‐off between ionic conductivity and structural integrity. The discussion extends to emerging opportunities that will define the next generation of eutectogels, specifically the integration of artificial intelligence for data‐driven material discovery and signal interpretation, the adoption of three‐dimensional printing for customized manufacturing, and the development of fully recyclable networks to ensure life‐cycle sustainability.

FlexMat.
Jiangnan University (CN)
Basic Research Program of Jiangsu Province
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
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