01
Hydrogels & Transport
Water-rich polymer networks for controlled gas transport, water capture, and responsive swelling.
Explore this theme →Soft Responsive Materials Laboratory (SRM-Lab)
School of Materials Science and Engineering
School of Physics, Georgia Tech
Programming soft matter for motion, transport, and adaptation.
SRM-Lab investigates how molecular interactions, phase behavior, and material architecture govern the response of soft polymers. By combining polymer chemistry, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing, we develop hydrogels, actuators, and reconfigurable materials for healthcare, soft robotics, and sustainability.
Research
Three connected directions in soft responsive materials
02
Soft Actuation & Robotics
Molecular order and phase transitions translated into programmed motion and adaptive behavior.
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03
Reconfigurable Architectures
Responsive materials and geometry combined to create structures with programmable transformations.
Explore this theme →Featured Research
NATURE · 2026
Air-permeable hydrogels through viscoelastic phase separation of aerogels
We use viscoelastic phase separation to create interconnected aerogel pathways within water-rich hydrogels, enabling efficient gas transport while preserving the soft and hydrated characteristics of the material.
This work establishes internal phase architecture as a powerful design parameter for controlling transport in hydrogels and opens new opportunities for breathable soft interfaces and functional hydrogel devices.
News
Recent updates and highlights