Smart materials are characterized by the capability to change properties in response to environmental changes or external stimuli. They can be tailored to have controlled interactions with biological ...

A smart polymer developed by UC San Diego scientists can disassemble when hit by low-power near-infrared light, opening the door to new imaging techniques. (Image courtesy of American Chemical Society ...

Early smart materials were typically amorphous polymers, hydrogels, or liquid crystalline systems with randomly distributed responsive groups, which limited response speed, energy efficiency, and the ...

A team of researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots. These tiny robots have the potential to conduct ...

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Despite the prevalence of synthetic materials across different industries and scientific fields, most are developed to serve a limited set of functions. To address this ...

(Nanowerk Spotlight) Living organisms utilize sophisticated chemical signaling to share information, locate mates, and defend territories. Harnessing similar abilities could revolutionize robotic ...

Understanding smart materials is vital for advancing adaptable technologies, forming the foundation for breakthroughs in robotics, automation, and biomedical devices. This area of study explores the ...

Electrically conductive "smart fabrics" have many potential applications, but their specialized fibers typically aren't as soft and flexible as those made of regular materials. An experimental new two ...

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and TU Dresden are blurring the lines between robotics and materials, with a proof-of-concept material-like collective of robots with behaviors inspired by biology. “We ...