Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports最新文献

{"title":"2D hybrid and biodegradable piezoelectric nanogenerators for self-powered systems: Next generation sustainable energy","authors":"Ravi Kumar ,&nbsp;Pashupati Pratap Neelratan ,&nbsp;Shivom ,&nbsp;Yogendra Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Ajeet Kaushik ,&nbsp;Sanjeev Kumar Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing global demand for sustainable and portable energy solutions has fueled research into nanogenerators (NGs), primarily those leveraging piezoelectric effects for energy harvesting. The increasing demand for biodegradable (BD), biocompatible, wearable, and flexible electronics has driven the development of advanced NGs, capable of converting mechanical, frictional, or thermal energy into electrical power. Piezoelectric NGs (PENGs), utilizing 2D hybrid (HD) and BD components, offer a promising path towards next-generation self-powered devices combining high-performance energy harvesting systems with environmental sustainability, making them ideal for innovative and eco-friendly electronics. Compared to traditional materials, 2D HD offers atomic-scale thickness, high mechanical strength, and intrinsic piezoelectric properties at the monolayer level. Integration of 2D HD with BD substrates enables the fabrication of fully degradable, biocompatible, and flexible/non-flexible devices capable of harvesting energy from mechanical motions, such as vibrations, bending, or body movement. This review highlights the latest developments in 2D HD and BD materials for flexible/non-flexible PENGs, focusing on their design, working principles, and application in real-time sensing and self-powered electronics. Special emphasis is given to material innovations, structural configurations, and the role of biodegradability in enhancing device sustainability. Current challenges and prospects are also discussed for scalable and reliable BD-based self-powered systems tailored for next-generation sustainable energy technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101114"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-dimensional optoelectronic memristors: From quantum confinement to neuromorphic vision","authors":"Yifei Pei ,&nbsp;Jiaming Zhang ,&nbsp;Mengya Guo ,&nbsp;Jianhui Zhao ,&nbsp;Liyu Wang ,&nbsp;Jisiqi Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaobing Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The von Neumann architecture's inherent separation of memory and computation has become a critical bottleneck in the era of big data, driving the search for integrated computing-memory solutions. Memristors, with their intrinsic ability to unify storage and processing, have emerged as a transformative platform. The exceptional physical properties of low-dimensional materials have played a critical role in this progress, enabling unprecedented device miniaturization, increased storage density, and tunable optoelectronic functionality through their outstanding electronic, optical, and quantum characteristics. This review explores the pivotal role of low-dimensional materials in revolutionizing optoelectronic memristors, focusing on their quantum confinement effects, tunable optoelectronic properties, and neuromorphic applications. We systematically analyze how 0D quantum dots enable light-modulated conductive pathways through precise carrier trapping, 1D nanowires leverage anisotropic charge transport for ultrafast photoresponse, and 2D materials facilitate heterostructure engineering to enhance switching stability. We then deeply analyze the transformative impact of optoelectronic memristors based on low-dimensional materials in neuromorphic computing, particularly their remarkable advantages in simulating complex synaptic dynamics and developing low-energy artificial vision systems. Finally, we specifically outline future research directions, focusing on overcoming bottlenecks in the precise synthesis and scalable fabrication of low-dimensional materials, and leveraging their exceptional optoelectronic properties and tunable quantum characteristics to emulate more intricate synaptic dynamics, thereby bridging the gap between electronic and biological systems. These efforts aim to amplify the role of optoelectronic memristors in future neuromorphic computing and highly integrated chip applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101115"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in vat photopolymerization 3D printing: Multifunctional materials, process innovations, and emerging applications","authors":"Karim Khan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Irfan Hussain ,&nbsp;Ayesha Khan Tareen ,&nbsp;Ali Asghar ,&nbsp;Muhammad Hamza ,&nbsp;Zhangwei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, enables the on-demand conversion of computer-aided design (CAD) models into physical objects, eliminating the need for expensive moulds, dies, or lithographic masks. Among the various AM techniques, light-based vat photopolymerization (VPP) stands out for its focus on polymer-based pure and composite materials. The VPP offers exceptional versatility in printing formats, speed, and precision. Known for its rapid fabrication, high dimensional accuracy, and superior surface finish, VPP is especially well-suited for creating complex geometries. VPP operates by curing photopolymer resins using specific wavelengths of light, typically via vector scanning or mask projection methods. Remarkably, VPP is also adaptable to powder-polymer composite slurry systems and preceramic polymer liquids, enabling additional functionalities and widespread use in lightweight structural components, architectural designs, and optical devices. The integration of nanomaterials (NMs) into VPP-based 3D printing has further expanded its capabilities, enhancing mechanical, thermal, optical, magnetic, catalytic, sensing, and electrical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of VPP technology, detailing its underlying principles and recent advancements in materials development, particularly nanocomposites. It also examines key factors influencing the performance of VPP systems and explores their potential applications across sectors such as biomedicine, catalysis, renewable energy, sensing, and aerospace. Finally, the review addresses current challenges and outlines future prospects for VPP-based material systems. This review bridges critical gaps by correlating material design with process scalability and application-specific performance, offering valuable insights into the optimization of VPP for diverse industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101120"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging metal oxide based triboelectric nanogenerators for energy collection and self-powered sensing","authors":"Wei-Bin Chen ,&nbsp;Shu-Zheng Liu ,&nbsp;Jiaqing Zhuang ,&nbsp;Dan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin-Gui Tang ,&nbsp;Vellaisamy A.L. Roy ,&nbsp;Qi-Jun Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have obtained extensive global research attention for their promising applications in energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. The energy conversion efficiency of TENGs can be significantly enhanced by incorporating metal oxides, attributable to their high dielectric constant, tunable electron affinity, and chemical stability. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest progress on metal oxide based TENGs (MO-TENGs), including the working principles, materials selection criterion, and applications. Moreover, the remaining challenges and future prospect of MO-TENGs are introduced and discussed in detail. This review should provide guidance on the construction and application of high-performance TENGs in future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101119"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revealing the origins of superior ion diffusion in biphasic layered oxide cathode for sodium-ion batteries","authors":"Ming-Yuan Shen,&nbsp;Zhi-Jie Zhu,&nbsp;Wensha Niu,&nbsp;Tao Wu,&nbsp;Wen-Cui Li,&nbsp;An-Hui Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>P2/O3 biphasic materials have emerged as competitive candidates for high-performance sodium-ion battery cathodes, and a thorough understanding of the ion diffusion behavior in biphasic structures particularly at phase interface is critical for unlocking their full potential. Herein, the Na_<em>x</em>Zn_0.07Ni_0.30Mn_0.53Ti_0.10O₂ cathodes with finely-tuned P2/O3 phase ratios are designed and their ion diffusion mechanism is revealed through in-depth structural-electrochemical investigation. Experiments verify that a balanced phase composition of P2/O3-Na0.82 with 52.83 % P2 and 47.17 % O3 can maximize the coupling advantages of the biphasic structure and exhibit excellent Na⁺ diffusion kinetics, delivering a remarkable rate capability (143.0 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 C, 100.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 C with 70.1 % retention), outperforming most reported P2/O3 biphasic cathodes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure results indicate that the coordination environment of Ni-O and Ni-TM paths undergoes conspicuous local symmetry breaking, driving the P2/O3-Na0.82 interface structure distortions, which exhibit unique characteristics distinct from single-phase systems. Theoretical analyses reveal that the interfacial distortions structures facilitate the overlap of Na⁺ energy distributions and create interconnecting bridges across different Na⁺ sites, ultimately promoting low-energy-barrier Na⁺ diffusion. These findings establish an atomic-level insight into the interface-induced ion diffusion acceleration mechanism in biphasic materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101110"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145010252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antiviral molecularly imprinted polymers: Engineered precision for multifunctional therapeutic strategies","authors":"Xiaohan Ma ,&nbsp;Latifa W. Allahou ,&nbsp;Ren Yang ,&nbsp;Yingqi Ma ,&nbsp;Myrto Dimoula ,&nbsp;David Y.S. Chau ,&nbsp;Gareth R. Williams ,&nbsp;Jonathan C. Knowles ,&nbsp;Alessandro Poma","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pressing need for innovative antiviral therapies has accelerated the exploration of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which exhibit selective and specific biomimetic recognition capabilities. Although originally developed for chemical sensing and diagnostic applications, MIPs have shown considerable potential in antiviral contexts due to their structural adaptability, chemical stability, tunable physicochemical properties, and capacity for tailored target recognition that can rival natural antibodies in certain applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of virological principles and the limitations of conventional antiviral strategies, followed by a rationale for employing MIPs in antiviral therapeutic applications. It briefly summarizes MIP fabrication methods and examines their antiviral potential across four strategic domains. These include inhibiting viral entry by recognizing intact virions or surface components, disrupting genome synthesis and replication by targeting structural and non-structural proteins as well as viral nucleic acids, enhancing immune responses by interfering with viral immune evasion and promoting immune-mediated clearance, and facilitating antiviral drug delivery through sustained-release carriers, stimuli-responsive platforms, and applications in pharmaceutical detection and purification. In addition to highlighting these applications, the review addresses critical translational challenges such as biocompatibility, off-target effects, large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory considerations, which remain key barriers to real-world deployment of antiviral MIP technologies. Future efforts should emphasize intelligent design tools, biosafety optimization, and standardization to support the safe and effective clinical translation of antiviral MIPs. Together, these insights position MIPs as a highly promising, multifunctional, and technologically adaptable platform that addresses key limitations of conventional therapies and paves the way for next-generation precision antiviral interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101099"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144997071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the biomaterial facet of polarized piezoelectric sodium potassium niobate: A comprehensive study","authors":"Subhasmita Swain ,&nbsp;Ashutosh Kumar Dubey ,&nbsp;Tapash R. Rautray","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The fabrication of electro-active bone substitute materials has sparked a significant attention due to the intrinsic electrical characteristics of bone<strong>.</strong> Recent studies have focused on improving the interaction between biomaterials and bone, recognizing its critical role in implant functionality. Early-stage implantation significantly influences the long-term success of an implant, with post-operative infections posing a major clinical challenge. This underscores the urgent need for advanced biocompatible materials that not only enhance tissue regeneration but also provide effective antibacterial defense. The exploration of bioelectricity in facilitating tissue repair has gained momentum, driven by the growing understanding of piezoelectric properties in natural bone. Harnessing the intrinsic electrical activity of biomaterials presents a promising approach, as bioelectricity is an inherent feature of bone cells, directly regulating their metabolic processes and contributing to tissue regeneration. Having a perovskite structure, lead-free piezo-ceramic sodium potassium niobate (NKN) possesses remarkable electroactive characteristics such as significantly high dielectric constant, superior piezoelectric characteristics, and strong electromechanical coupling coefficient, making it a potential electroactive candidate for tissue engineering. Due to the evidence of enhanced cytocompatibility, osteogenesis, antibacterial activities, along with electrical characteristics, it has been recognized as a potential electro-active bone substitute. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of bone and its intrinsic electrical properties, along with an in-depth examination of NKN—including its doping strategies, electroactive response mechanisms, and structural characteristics. Additionally, the role of poling in enhancing NKN’s electroactivity is explored, reinforcing its potential for biomedical applications. The review highlights NKN’s implications in bone tissue regeneration, soft tissue repair (nerve and vascular regeneration), and cancer therapy, underscoring its relevance across various fields of biomedical engineering. Finally, the summary outlines future research directions, emphasizing opportunities for further exploration and optimization of NKN-based biomaterials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101111"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145004843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioinspired textured sensor arrays with early temporal processing for ultrafast robotic tactile recognition","authors":"Tingyu Wang ,&nbsp;Zhiyi Gao ,&nbsp;Chengyu Li ,&nbsp;Guanbo Min ,&nbsp;Kun Xu ,&nbsp;En Zhao ,&nbsp;Ke Wang ,&nbsp;Wei Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid tactile processing is one of the most effective and direct strategies for robots to interact with surrounding environment. However, achieving both fast and accurate tactile recognition remains a challenge due to the inherent trade-off between sensor sensitivity and reaction time. In this study, we developed a bioinspired textured sensor array (TSA) using a circular grid arrangement, which could provide rich information on dynamic tactile processes in a self-powered manner. Early tactile process model (ETPM) was introduced to prioritize early-stage tactile data, which enables ultrafast decision-making speed without compromising classification accuracy. Specifically, our system achieved early predictions of object classification with an accuracy of 92 % while using only the initial 19 % (48 ms) of tactile data. The practicability of this system was examined through integration into a robotic arm. An ultrafast reaction time of 89 ms was achieved in real-time object property prediction, which is even faster than human hands. This advancement provides a robust foundation for rapid and precise tactile recognition in robotic perception systems, improving the robot’s response speed, reliability, and intelligence in real-world applications, including collaborative manufacturing, assistive technologies, and interactive service environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101113"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanocluster catalyst driving ampere-level current density in direct seawater electrolysis quantum leap towards sustainable energy","authors":"Navakoteswara Rao Vempuluru ,&nbsp;Yeongjun Yoon ,&nbsp;Jyoti Prakash Das ,&nbsp;Vijayakumar Elumalai ,&nbsp;Anandhan Ayyappan Saj ,&nbsp;Hanna Lee ,&nbsp;Tae Kyu Kim ,&nbsp;Kyeounghak Kim ,&nbsp;Arunprasath Sathyaseelan ,&nbsp;Perumalsamy Muthukumar ,&nbsp;Sang-Jae Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101092","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101092","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Direct seawater electrolysis offers a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production, but challenges such as chloride corrosion, high overpotentials, and catalyst instability hinder its scalability. Here, we present a surface-engineered Cu-Ni bimetallic nanocluster catalyst anchored on Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene via a facile polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted synthesis method. This pioneering design leverages the terminal functional groups (Tx = F, OH, O) of MXene to enhance metal-substrate interactions, optimize intermediate adsorption, and minimize the chloride ions adsorption, enabling efficient and durable seawater splitting. The catalyst achieves ultralow overpotentials of 29 mV (HER) and 250 mV (OER) in ultrapure water, and 49 mV (HER) and 290 mV (OER) in natural seawater at 10 mA cm⁻², closely compute with precious metal-based systems. Remarkably, it delivers a significant current density of 1.5 A cm⁻² at 2.4 V (60 °C) in an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, demonstrating its potential for industrial-scale hydrogen production. The engineered surface resists chloride-induced corrosion and maintains stability for &gt; 100 h at 100 mA cm⁻² and 70 h at 1000 mA cm⁻² in alkaline seawater. Combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) analyses reveal the synergistic effects of Cu-Ni nanoclusters and Ti₃C₂Tₓ, elucidating the mechanisms behind enhanced reaction kinetics and durability by In-situ Raman and anticorrosion insights. The scalable, low-cost synthesis method, coupled with seamless integration into photovoltaic-electrolysis systems, achieves a remarkable rate of 1.42 mL/min of H₂ production. This work provides a transformative pathway for sustainable hydrogen production from seawater, addressing global energy and environmental challenges while advancing the fundamental understanding of electrocatalysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101092"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing water retention in hydrogels under extreme conditions: Strategies, applications and challenges","authors":"Yuanxi Chang ,&nbsp;Yan Jia ,&nbsp;Yansong Pan ,&nbsp;Jin Wang ,&nbsp;Hongrui Yang ,&nbsp;Mei Zu ,&nbsp;Haifeng Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mser.2025.101098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogels have garnered significant research interest for their versatile applications in biomedical, electronic, and agricultural fields—attributes intrinsically linked to their high-water-content matrices. However, hydrogel functionality frequently deteriorates under environmental conditions due to dehydration/freezing-induced structural damage, resulting in performance degradation. To address this challenge, various strategies have been developed to enhance the water retention of hydrogels, employing diverse mechanisms and targeting a range of applications. In this review, strategies for improving the water retention of hydrogels and their corresponding cutting-edge applications have been systematically described. Firstly, the states and importance of water in hydrogels are articulated. Subsequently, five core strategies are categorized and mechanistically analyzed across multi-scale: encapsulation, solvent optimization, ionic incorporation, structural design, and combination approaches. Then, the applications and developments of hydrogels are highlighted and mainly categorized into three promising candidates, including biomedical (tissue engineering, dressing, biosensing), electronic (electrolyte, sensor, wearable device), and agricultural (water retainer of soil, nutrient release, vertical farming) fields. Finally, current challenges and future research directions for hydrogels are critically assessed, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions and strategic advancements to unlock their full potential in diverse applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":386,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101098"},"PeriodicalIF":31.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}