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About

Yongyuan Ren is a leading figure in the field of soft electronics and iontronics, with a primary focus on developing advanced ionic conductors for wearable sensors and soft robotics. Ren’s major contributions center on the design of poly(ionic liquid)-based materials that overcome the limitations of traditional hydrogels, such as liquid evaporation and poor performance in extreme conditions. Notably, Ren created a zwitterionic poly(ionic liquid) hydrogel that remains highly conductive and self-healing at temperatures as low as −20 °C, enabling an anti-freezing ionic skin for a soft robotic gripper (439 citations). Further advancing the field, Ren engineered a moisture-wicking, breathable, and intrinsically antibacterial electronic skin using dual-gradient poly(ionic liquid) nanofiber membranes (271 citations), addressing critical issues of signal stability and user comfort. More recently, Ren developed three-dimensional printable, highly conductive ionic elastomers that eliminate volatile liquid components (65 citations), paving the way for durable, high-sensitivity iontronic devices. Through these innovations, Ren has significantly enhanced the practicality and performance of flexible electronics, with work that is widely cited for its impact on human-computer interfaces and medical diagnostics.