MIT engineers have developed a soft, flexible gel that dramatically increases its electrical conductivity when exposed to light, using photo-ion generators (PIGs) embedded in polyurethane rubber. The material achieves up to 400x greater conductivity upon light exposure, bridging the gap between traditional electronics and biological tissues via ionotronics — a field where ions rather than electrons carry signals. Current conductivity changes are irreversible, but future versions aim for reversible switching. Potential applications include soft wearables, human-machine interfaces, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.
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