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ABSTRACT Materials that can deform, sense, and autonomously generate power in response to wireless magnetic fields, through both magnetic‐actuated shape transformation and charge generation, are an emerging focus in advanced functional materials research. Magneto–mechano–electric intelligent materials, created by embedding ferromagnetic particles into soft elastomers with immobile charges, are bringing this vision closer to reality. Under wireless magnetic actuation, they undergo rapid deformation that drives charge flow, enabling controlled responses. Yet realizing such materials to unleash their full potential remains a major challenge because of the complex multiphysics coupling under large deformation and independent mechanical and electrical responses. In this work, we create a new class of dual‐programmable magnetic soft materials with unprecedented dual properties by establishing a multiphysics inverse‐design framework that simultaneously optimizes geometry and remanent magnetization distributions to tune both magneto–elastic and magneto–electric behaviors. The framework is complemented by a tailored fabrication approach and experimental validation, forming a comprehensive and automated pipeline for creating multifunctional advanced materials for biomedical devices with dually programmable behaviors. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through an electrical stimulation guidewire for endovascular therapy, mechano–electric treatment robots for injury‐specific tissue recovery, and multifunctional self‐powering and self‐sensing bio‐robots with on‐demand mechanical motions. Together, these results establish an effective inverse‐design‐to‐fabrication paradigm for dual‐programmable magnetic soft materials in next‐generation biomedical applications.
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This content will become publicly available on January 7, 2027
Electromagnetic (EM)‐Driven Functional Materials
ABSTRACT Electromagnetic (EM) fields have been used in technologies such as communication, imaging, and energy transfer. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploiting EM fields for the actuation of functional materials, enabling applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices, active metamaterials, and shape‐morphing systems. These materials are often composites that incorporate EM‐responsive components, granting them a remarkable versatility in responsiveness. Specifically, EM fields can induce actuation through static magnetic force and torque, Lorentz forces, or thermal effects via eddy currents and magnetic hysteresis losses. In addition, EM fields can be harnessed for sensing, wireless communication, and power transfer, extending their role far beyond actuation. The coexistence of such diverse mechanisms makes EM one of the most powerful and integrative external stimuli for multifunctional materials. This review provides the first holistic overview of EM‐active material systems. We systematically organize recent progress in EM‐based actuation, sensing, communication, and wireless power transfer, highlighting the fundamental principles, experimental demonstrations, and emerging design strategies. Approaches that integrate multiple EM‐driven functionalities and the role of optimization and machine learning in advancing design and control are discussed. By consolidating these advances, this review establishes a roadmap for the development of next‐generation EM‐enabled intelligent materials and devices.
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- PAR ID:
- 10663906
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials
- ISSN:
- 0935-9648
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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