The field of soft electronics has seen remarkable progress, with conductive hydrogels standing out as pivotal materials for stretchable electronic devices. These hydrogels, characterized by their tissue-like elasticity, high conductivity, and biocompatibility, play an increasingly vital role in wearable and interactive technologies. Recent developments have focused on the incorporation of nanoscale fillers such as carbon nanotubes, metallic nanowires, and MXenes, which have significantly enhanced the functional potential of these hydrogels. Despite their promise, researchers continue to grapple with persistent challenges, such as optimizing the balance between mechanical stretchability and electrical performance, and ensuring material robustness under continuous operation. Ongoing debates center on the reliability, integration, and long-term stability of these devices, especially when exposed to complex, real-world mechanical and thermal environments.

Recent studies have reported significant advances in engineering conductive and thermoelectric hydrogels, enabling new self-powered sensor architectures essential in next-generation human–machine interfaces and soft robotics. Cutting-edge experimental and theoretical investigations have unraveled critical insights into the design of multifunctional hydrogels, their interface dynamics, and the mechanisms that underpin their sensing capabilities. However, key gaps remain in understanding how these materials behave under dynamic, multi-modal stimuli, and how to efficiently couple their electronic and mechanical properties for practical, scalable deployment. A concerted effort to explore fundamental structure–function relationships and address translational barriers is needed to bring these advanced hydrogels from laboratory prototypes to real-world applications.

This Research Topic aims to compile groundbreaking research in the rational design, characterization, and application of conductive and thermoelectric hydrogels for stretchable electronics. The main objectives include elucidating the underlying material mechanisms, optimizing sensor performance for complex environments, and accelerating the translation of hydrogel-based sensors and actuators into industrial and clinical settings. By fostering a multidisciplinary exchange of ideas and presenting innovative hydrogel systems for intelligent wearables and robotics, this collection seeks to inform the development of next-generation smart interfaces and health-monitoring technologies.

This Research Topic encompasses the design, synthesis, and application of conductive hydrogels for stretchable electronic and wearable devices. While the focus is on materials and devices that address challenges related to stretchability, conductivity, stability, and multi-functionality, contributions on theoretical, experimental, and translational advances are welcomed.

To gather further insights in this rapidly evolving domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Advanced materials engineering for conductive and thermoelectric hydrogels
• Integrating nanoscale fillers to modulate mechanical and electronic properties
• Multi-modal sensing and self-powered hydrogel-based electronic devices
• Device–material interfacial phenomena and long-term operational stability
• Innovative applications in health monitoring, human–machine interaction, and soft robotics
• Theoretical modeling and simulation of hydrogel behavior under dynamic conditions

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Conductive Hydrogels: Bridging Material Science and Wearable Stretchable Electronics