City University of Hong Kong researchers have developed 3D-printed biomimetic smart materials inspir...

City University of Hong Kong researchers have developed 3D-printed biomimetic smart materials inspired by sea urchin spines that generate voltage from water flow. By using vat photopolymerization to replicate natural gradient porous structures, the team achieved a 3x increase in voltage output and 8x higher signal amplitude compared to standard designs. This breakthrough proves that additive manufacturing can embed self-sensing capabilities directly into a material's topology, eliminating the need for external batteries. These mechanoelectrical materials signal a shift toward integrated structural-functional systems for autonomous marine and aerospace monitoring. 🌊🔋 #AdditiveManufacturing #3DPrinting #SmartMaterials #Biomimetics