F1) Soft Materials for Robotics, Optoelectronics and Stretchable Devices

Soft materials have emerged as a groundbreaking class of materials with transformative potential across a multitude of scientific and engineering disciplines. In recent years, there has been an explosive surge of interest and innovation in the realm of soft materials. These materials are characterized by their unique mechanical (flexibility and adaptability) and optoelectronic properties (efficiency and versatility), and they have revolutionised multiple industries. Soft materials encompass a broad spectrum, including organic molecules/complexes, elastomers, hydrogels, polymers, and composites, each offering distinct properties that render them invaluable for a wide range of applications. This symposium aims to delve into the frontiers of such soft materials and their diverse applications in the fields of robotics, optoelectronics, and stretchable devices, offering a detailed and comprehensive perspective on this burgeoning field.

The symposium is structured around three core themes. 1) Soft electronic materials, which will delve into the unique properties and applications of soft electronics, including their development, characterization, and integration into devices; 2) Smart and responsive materials, exploring materials that adapt to changing conditions and their role in autonomous systems and soft robotics; and 3) Light-emitting and optoelectronic materials, spotlighting materials for light emission, optoelectronic devices (photovoltaic, transistors, etc), and their potential impact on displays, communication, and energy-conversion/harvesting. These themes collectively offer a comprehensive exploration of the exciting world of soft materials and their diverse applications.

Topics will include:

Development, synthesis, fabrication and characterisation of novel soft, organic, flexible electronic materials

Soft material-based and stimuli-responsive smart materials for actuators, sensors, and grippers

Advances in flexible and stretchable devices

Next generation organic materials for optoelectronic applications

Emerging technologies for organic and flexible photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, transistors, and other optoelectronic devices

Organic and hybrid composites for flexible luminescent and upconversion applications

Flexible, stretchable, wearable electronics, bioelectronics and sensors

Computation-driven material design and performance of soft materials for functional devices