Low mechanical-hysteresis soft materials: materials, design, and applications

Abstract

Soft materials, especially in wearable and biomedical devices, typically require rapid response, stability, and durability under long-term cyclic loading. Despite advances in strength enhancement and flexibility, they often experience significant mechanical hysteresis, which limits their precise signal response and fatigue resistance. Recently, research on soft materials for achieving low hysteresis has begun to receive more attention, but challenges remain in areas such as design strategy scalability, environmental stability, and performance integration. This article reviews the current research status of low mechanical-hysteresis soft materials (LMHSs), aiming to provide guidance for the development of high-performance LMHSs in the future. It focuses on the structural characteristics, design strategies, and potential applications of various types of LMHSs. Firstly, various types of LMHSs, especially hydrogels, organohydrogels, ionogels, elastomers and hybrid complexes, were discussed. Then, we conducted an in-depth exploration of the latest design strategies that contribute to achieving low hysteresis, including the nanoconfinement effect, physical chain entanglement, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions, among others. Finally, the functional applications of LMHSs in fields such as sensors, energy generation and storage devices, and biomedical devices were summarized. Our conclusion outlines key insights and potential directions for future research, providing a more comprehensive perspective for the study of LMHSs.