Anti-impact composite based on shear stiffening gel: Structural design and multifunctional applications

With the development of intelligent protective wearable equipment, flexible materials with impact resistance have become a focus of attention. Shear stiffening gel (SSG) is a flexible smart material that can perceive external force loads and generate mechanical responses, boasting exceptional properties like fast response, adaptability, and self-healing. Since the SSG can absorb a large amount of energy during dynamic impact, it shows remarkable advantages for safety protection applications. During the past decade, there has been strong interests in the research community on the SSG composites and their various applications in cutting-edge fields. In this review, we summarize the recent research achievements of SSG composite, by focusing on the improved properties, enhanced functions, and manifold structures. Meanwhile, we also discuss the practical applications of SSG composite in battery protection, vibration control, intelligent sensing, wearable safety protection, and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Finally, we propose the prospects and challenges for the further development and application of SSG composite in the future.