Accessible Soft Electronics with Silver-Gelatin Conductive Hydrogel Composite

Electrically conductive hydrogels are a promising class of materials for soft electronics and robotics that mimic the mechanics of natural biological tissue. However, these materials are typically derived from petrochemical sources and their production typically involves hazardous solvents and monomers that limit accessibility and environmental compatibility. This study introduces a biomaterial hydrogel composite in which a percolating network of silver microflakes is suspended in a natural, gelatin-based matrix. The composite is primarily composed of inexpensive, food-safe ingredients and fabrication is achieved using accessible consumer-grade equipment. The resulting material system is mechanically soft, stretchable up to 470% strain, and highly conductive up to 3.1 × 10³ S cm⁻¹, with properties that can be tailored based on material composition and processing conditions. In addition to experimental characterization of its material properties, this conductive gelatin composite is shown to be applicable for a variety of uses cases in soft matter circuitry and bioelectronics.