The hydrogen bond behind smarter electronic skin

Electronic skin (e-skin) is a rapidly developing technology designed to mimic the sensory and mechanical properties of human skin, enabling applications in wearables, robotics, and bioelectronics. Its development depends on materials that integrate electrical conductivity, flexibility, self-healing, and bio-compatibility. Conjugated polymers have emerged as ideal candidates, but optimizing their performance requires precise molecular engineering. Hydrogen bonding has proven to be a key tool in this process, enhancing self-assembly, π–π stacking, charge transport, and mechanical resilience. This review explores recent advancements in hydrogen-bonded conjugated polymers, focusing on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), naphthalene diimide (NDI), and isoindigo (IIND), and highlights promising strategies to enhance e-skin technology for next-generation wearable and bioelectronic applications.