Highly Elastic Spongelike Hydrogels for Impedance-Based Multimodal Sensing

Hydrogel-based sensors have been widely studied for perceiving the environment. However, the simplest type of resistive sensors still lacks sensitivity to localized strain and other extractable data. Enhancing their sensitivity and expanding their functionality to perceive multiple stimuli simultaneously are highly beneficial yet require optimal material design and proper testing methods. Herein, we report a highly elastic, sponge-like hydrogel and its derived multimodal iontronic sensor. By unidirectional freeze casting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with electrospun cellulose nanofibers (CNF), a hierarchical structure with aligned PVA channels supported by interlaced CNF tangles is created. The structure ensures both efficient mass transport and good elasticity, enhancing reversible compressibility and ionic conductivity. Combining this sponge hydrogel with impedance-based measurement methods allows the development of multimodal sensors capable of detecting local strain, position, and material type of object-in-contact. Integrating these sensing capabilities, a two-dimensional small motion monitor, a 3D input interface, and a material identification gripper are demonstrated. This study provides a simple approach to versatile multimodal sensors.