Atoms to Systems Lab

We are developing a diverse portfolio of soft ionic materials engineered for piezoionic response, spanning both solvent-based and solvent-free systems:

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Solvent-Based Systems:​

• Hydrogels: Water-swollen polymer networks containing mobile ions. They offer excellent biocompatibility, high ionic conductivity, and tissue-like mechanical properties, making them ideal for biomedical applications.​​

• Ionogels: Polymer networks swollen with ionic liquids. They provide wider electrochemical stability, negligible volatility, and tunable mechanical properties, suitable for robust wearable devices.

 

Solvent-Free Systems:​

• Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Ion-conducting polymers without liquid solvents. They offer enhanced mechanical integrity, improved safety (no leakage), and better long-term stability for integrated systems.

 

Material Design & Performance:​

• Pros and Cons: Hydrogels offer supreme biocompatibility but face dehydration challenges. Ionogels provide environmental stability but require careful ionic liquid selection. Solid polymer electrolytes enable all-solid-state devices but often have lower ionic conductivity.​​

• New Design Requirements: Piezoionics imposes unique requirements: high ionic mobility under stress, controlled mechanical-electrical coupling, and engineered interfaces that maintain performance during deformation. We focus on molecular design, network architecture, and composite strategies to optimize these interdependent properties.

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