Yong Min Kim

Autonomous soft actuators are essential for untethered intelligent robotic systems. However, achieving energy‐efficient operation and long‐term shape retention in solid‐state platforms remains a significant challenge, as most conventional systems rely on continuous power input or complex fluidic architectures. Here, we report an environmentally adaptive ionic actuator inspired by the Venus flytrap, capable of self‐sensing and bidirectional deformation without sustained external energy. By incorporating azobenzene moieties into an ionogel network, we trigger a unique nanopore‐mediated Janus actuation. A single, low‐power UV pulse (35.3 mW cm ⁻² ) induces rapid photoisomerization and localized dehydration, forming surface nanopores that facilitate asymmetric moisture uptake. This structural reconfiguration drives directional bending that is passively maintained for over 10 min, which is an exceptionally long retention time compared to conventional soft actuators. Furthermore, electrification‐induced voltage signals enable zero‐bias proximity sensing. By integrating these synergistic characteristics, we demonstrate a biomimetic ionograsper that combines ion‐redistribution‐induced sensing with energy‐efficient light‐triggered actuation for sophisticated object manipulation. Overall, this work provides a robust strategy for developing multifunctional and power‐efficient soft robots capable of intelligent environmental interaction.

Frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) is an energy-efficient process for the construction of high performance polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) thermosets. A small fraction of norbornene (NBE) comonomer is often added to DCPD to liquify the resin, but their effects on the resin chemistry and frontal curing characteristics are not quantitatively understood, especially for recently developed deconstructable DCPD resins containing cleavable comonomers. 2,3-Dihydrofuran (DHF) is a commercially available, effective cleavable comonomer for ROMP of norbornenes, and it has been recently demonstrated to enable full deconstruction of pDCPD thermosets at 5% loading. Herein, we investigated deconstructable DCPD resins containing 5% of different (oxa)NBE derivatives and 5% DHF. We report the effects of such a small fraction of (oxa)NBE comonomers on the resin pot life (room temperature resin reactivity), front curing characteristics, degree of cure, crosslinking density, comonomer distribution, and deconstruction kinetics of the resulting pDCPD thermosets. These effects can be correlated to the metathesis reactivity of these comonomers. This study provides quantitative understanding that will guide the future development of new deconstructable FROMP resins with desired construction and deconstruction characteristics.

Ionic diodes, which enable unidirectional ion transport, hold great promise for adaptive and energy-efficient ionotronic systems. However, conventional designs often rely on high ion concentrations, which promote ion pairing and clustering, thereby reducing mobility and impeding the formation of stable ion depletion layers (IDLs). Here, we report a mechano-gated ionic diode with balanced ionic conductivity between cationic and anionic polymer layers, achieved through copolymer engineering. This conductivity matching enables the formation of well-defined IDLs, yielding a record-high rectification ratio of 23.5 and pressure-sensitive piezo-ionic behavior. The device transduces mechanical stimuli into discrete ionic spikes via threshold-gated current modulation, consuming only 0.41 nanojoules per spike at rest and 1.49 nanojoules under pressure, achieving up to a 24-fold enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio. When integrated into a tactile interface, the diode exhibits synaptic-like plasticity and activity-dependent signal encoding. These findings establish a material-driven strategy for real-time, low-power ionic sensing and neuromorphic functionality.

By integrating the rapid ionic transport of ionic liquids with the structural integrity of polymers, ionogels achieve high conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and environmental stability. These attributes position them as promising solid-state electrolytes for soft electronics. Recent molecular innovations have yielded ionogels with remarkable stretchability, toughness, and multifunctionality, broadening their scope of applications. This Perspective highlights molecular-level strategies, such as copolymer design and dynamic cross-linking via ionic or supramolecular interactions, that tailor polymer–ion interactions and network dynamics. We then discuss how these strategies regulate ionicity, diffusivity, and segmental mobility. These microscopic processes ultimately determine macroscopic transport properties and enable advanced devices such as strain sensors, electrochromic supercapacitors, thermoelectric generators, and triboelectric nanogenerators. Finally, by integrating molecular design with mechanistic insight, we provide a forward-looking framework for developing scalable, robust, and adaptive ionogels that underpin next-generation ionotronic systems.

Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) is a high‐performance thermoset with lightweight and exceptional thermomechanical properties. However, its traditional thermal curing process is energy‐intensive and lacks chemical recyclability. Frontal Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization (FROMP) is an energy‐efficient curing process and allows additive manufacturing of pDCPD. 2,3‐Dihydrofuran (DHF) has been shown as an effective comonomer to allow the deconstruction of pDCPD thermosets when incorporated at a small fraction in pDCPD. Herein, a simple strategy for chemical recycling of pDCPD thermosets is reported, and maintaining FROMP characteristics and thermomechanical properties of the thermosets over five life cycles. Norbornadiene (NBD) is a key additive in resins containing recycled pDCPD to enhance polymerization kinetics and sustain FROMP characteristics. A one‐pot strategy is also developed to deconstruct pDCPD thermosets and simultaneously functionalize the chain ends with norbornenes for reincorporating deconstructed oligomers back to the next generation thermoset. Using these strategies, five generations of recycling pDCPD thermosets with invariable thermomechanical properties are demonstrated. This work highlights a scalable and energy‐efficient process to produce chemically recyclable pDCPD thermosets, significantly improving the circularity of this class of high‐performance thermosets.

The human light modulation response allows humans to perceive objects clearly by receiving the appropriate amount of light from the environment. This paper proposes a biomimetic ocular prosthesis system that mimics the human light modulation response capable of pupil and corneal reflections. First, photoinduced synaptic properties of the quantum dot embedded photonic synapse and its biosimilar signal transmission is confirmed. Subsequently, the pupillary light reflex is emulated by incorporating the quantum dot embedded photonic synapse, electrochromic device, and CMOS components. Moreover, a solenoid-based eyelid is connected to the pupillary light reflex system to emulate the corneal reflex. The proposed ocular prosthesis system represents a platform for biomimetic prosthesis that can accommodate an appropriate amount of stimulus by self-regulating the intensity of external stimuli.

Implementing self-healing capabilities in a deformable platform is one of the critical challenges for achieving future wearable electronics with high durability and reliability. Conventional systems are mostly based on polymeric materials, so their self-healing usually proceeds at elevated temperatures to promote chain flexibility and reduce healing time. Here, we propose an ion-cluster-driven self-healable ionoconductor composed of rationally designed copolymers and ionic liquids. After complete cleavage, the ionoconductor can be repaired with high efficiency (∼90.3%) within 1 min even at 25 °C, which is mainly attributed to the dynamic formation of ion clusters between the charged moieties in copolymers and ionic liquids. By taking advantages of the superior self-healing performance, stretchability (∼1130%), non-volatility (over 6 months), and ability to be easily shaped as desired through cutting and re-assembly protocol, reconfigurable, deformable light-emitting electroluminescent displays are successfully demonstrated as promising electronic platforms for future applications.

In this study, a convenient approach is proposed to tune the properties of ion gels by utilizing mixed ionic liquid (IL) systems. Herein, a binary IL system consisting of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMI][TFSI]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMI][PF₆]) at various compositions is employed with poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)) to prepare ion gels. A higher concentration of [BMI][TFSI] results in higher ionic conductivity but lower elastic modulus of gel electrolytes, which is explained using the difference in ionic mobility of the ILs and crystallinity of the PVDF domains. Considering this correlation, the composition of mixed ILs for ion gel-based pressure sensors is optimized. The resulting ionic pressure sensor exhibits balanced performance with decent sensitivity (∼0.058 kPa⁻¹) and detectable pressure range (∼75.8 kPa). The device shows excellent long-term durability (>14 000 s) without additional encapsulation. Furthermore, this pressure sensory ion gel film successfully monitors various types of external pressure, which indicates its high practical applicability. These results imply that binary IL-engineering is an easily and readily applicable strategy for adjusting ion gel performance in accordance with the desired applications.

In this work, we investigate the correlation between the molecular configuration of copolymer gelators and the resulting gel performance. Two copolymers exhibiting phase homogeneity without noticeable phase separation, poly(ethyl methacrylate)-ran-polystyrene (PEMA-r-PS) and disordered PEMA-b-PS, are prepared as gelators. To ensure an accurate comparison, factors closely related to gel properties (e.g., total molecular weight of gelators, styrene fraction of both copolymers, and gel composition) were fixed. Both gelators produce ion gels with similar conductivities when blended with an ionic liquid of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMI][TFSI]). However, there is a significant difference in their mechanical robustness. For example, the elastic modulus (∼2.20 × 10⁵ Pa) of PEMA-r-PS-based gels was ∼113% higher than that (∼1.03 × 10⁵ Pa) of the gel containing PEMA-b-PS. This result is explained by the difference in gel network structure. Namely, PEMA-r-PS gels contain a high density of smaller [EMI][TFSI]-insoluble styrene domains, which are advantageous for obtaining mechanically robust ion gels without sacrificing ionic conductivity. Moreover, the versatility of PEMA-r-PS gels as an electrochemical platform is demonstrated via application in electrochromic devices and stretchable ionic motion sensors. Overall, this work suggests that tuning the molecular configuration of copolymer gelators is another effective way to obtain high-performance ion gel electrolytes for various electrochemical applications.