Topic: Interfacial Engineering with Soft Materials

Interfaces govern the transfer of matter, energy, and signals between different components, playing an essential role in shaping responsive materials and devices. Recent advances in interfacial engineering with soft materials—through strategies including molecular modification, micro-/nanostructure design, and mechanical modulation—have substantially improved mechanical robustness, electronic functionality, and system-level reliability across a wide range of soft systems. These developments are driving rapid progress in flexible sensors and actuators, human-machine interfaces, biointegrated electronics, and soft robotics, etc.

This Special Issue aims to bring recent advances in understanding and engineering interfaces with soft materials, with a focus on uncovering fundamental interfacial mechanisms and enabling superior performance in sensing, actuation, and intelligent soft systems. We welcome contributions from all related fields such as materials science, mechanics, chemistry, energy, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. Both experimental and theoretical studies that offer new insights into interfacial behaviors or propose innovative approaches for engineering interfaces are strongly encouraged.

Key areas of interest include but are not limited to:

Interfacial engineering, interfacial sensing, interfacial adhesion, friction, mechanical modulation, human-machine interfaces, flexible and stretchable devices, soft robotics