MIT engineers have developed a light-activated soft gel that increases its electrical conductivity by 400 times when exposed to light, using a class of materials called photo-ion generators (PIGs) embedded in polyurethane rubber. The material belongs to the emerging field of ionotronics, which transfers data via ions rather than electrons, bridging the gap between rigid electronics and soft biological tissues. Current conductivity changes are irreversible, but researchers expect future versions to toggle between insulating and conducting states. Potential applications include soft wearable technology, human-machine interfaces, biocompatible devices, and soft robotics. The work was published in Nature Communications.
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