What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to develop robust hydrogel materials for bioinspired robotic fish skins that perform well in extreme ocean conditions.

January 24, 2026

High-Performance Hydrogel Skins for Bioinspired Robotic Fish in Extreme Ocean Environments

Key Points

The aim is to develop robust hydrogel materials for bioinspired robotic fish skins that perform well in extreme ocean conditions.
Fabrication of poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel via solvent-induced crystallization.
Assessment of mechanical strength, environmental tolerance, and biocompatibility.
Evaluation of ionic compounding for underwater conductivity and antifreezing capabilities.
Integration of ice templating and solvent crystallization for biomimetic skin design.
Hydrogel exhibits compressive strength up to 2.6 MPa and tensile strain greater than 450%.
The material maintains performance in harsh conditions, showing resilience to acids and seawater.
Efficient recyclability of over 90% after 10 cycles and low hemolysis rate (<1.5%) indicates good biocompatibility.
Antifouling properties achieved through hydrophilicity-driven inhibition of protein adsorption.

Abstract

The ocean's extreme environments demand robust materials for next-generation exploration tools. Here, we report a multifunctional poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (PVA-H) fabricated via universal solvent-induced crystallization for bioinspired robotic fish skins. Alkaline solvent induction triggers intrachain crystallization within concentrated PVA solutions, yielding hydrogels with exceptional mechanical strength (compressive strength up to 2.6 MPa, tensile strain >450%), environmental tolerance (resilience to 1 M acetic acid/NaOH, seawater, 3 M NaCl), and optical transparency (>80%). The material demonstrates efficient recyclability (>90% recovery over 10 cycles) and biocompatibility (hemolysis rate 70% protein adsorption, which confers antifouling properties. Integration of ice templating and solvent crystallization facilitated scalable fabrication of biomimetic fish skins, validated through sustained underwater operation. This work establishes a versatile platform for durable, eco-adaptive marine robotics operating in chemically, thermally, and biologically hostile environments.

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