Bio-inspired combinable self-powered soft device operating during the disintegration and reconstruction for next-generation artificial electric organs

Hydrogel materials have biocompatibility, flexibility, transparency, self-healing ability, adhesion with various substrates, anti-freeze ability, and high-temperature resistance. However, the existing hydrogel devices cannot continue to operate in the case of damage, and they cannot work during the repair period, which brings great challenges and threats to life safety. Herein, we have designed a bio-inspired combinable low-power device by imitating the generation of nerve signals whose components can be disassembled and can continue to operate during the period of reconstruction. And the mechanism and determinants of the above phenomena are revealed. The results indicate that this device can establish some information interaction relationships with the body or its surroundings to reflect and identify certain changes, implying that it will possess promising potential in feedback systems, power transformers, intelligence systems, soft robotics, wearable devices, implanted electronics with flexible characteristics matching biological tissues, etc.