Hydrogels: Gradient Porous Elastic Hydrogels with Shape‐Memory Property and Anisotropic Responses for Programmable Locomotion (Adv. Funct. Mater. 47/2015)

On page 7272, C.-H. Chen and co-workers demonstrate a gradient porous elastic hydrogel obtained through an effective hydrothermal route, that exhibits rapid and programmable locomotion prompted by external stimuli. According to the gradient porosity control, the hydrogel simultaneously exhibits rapid response, high elasticity, and anisotropic locomotion. The tunable pore structures, mechanical properties, and locomotion of this new class of materials make these gradient porous hydrogels potentially suitable for a variety of applications.