Electronic Hydrogels—Bioinspired Applications in Bioelectronics, Precision Agriculture and Smart Plant Monitoring

The convergence of soft and healable conducting polymers and hydrogels with bioinspired systems offers transformative opportunities for next-generation bioelectronics, and advanced computing. This talk explores the design, synthesis, and characterization of healable and stretchable electronic hydrogels that combine both electronic and ionic conductivity. These materials, which mimic natural biological systems, are synthesized from a range of polymers, tailored to enable mechanical resilience, strong adhesion, and self-healing properties. The hydrogels demonstrate adhesive capabilities, allowing for their integration into complex biological and artificial environments where firm yet flexible attachment is crucial for long-term functionality.
Beyond bioelectronics and robotics, these hydrogels are also engineered for agricultural applications, particularly in precision plant monitoring. By integrating electronics with hydrogels, we enable real-time tracking of metabolite levels within plant stems, offering a novel approach to monitor plant health and growth. Additionally, these hydrogels serve as biointerfaces for electrophysiological recordings of sensitive plants, allowing the capture of electrical signals from plants under stress or environmental stimuli. This dual functionality in metabolite sensing and electrophysiological monitoring, coupled with their adhesive properties, enhances our ability to optimize agricultural practices while minimizing resource usage, paving the way for innovations in smart farming.