Material Science Breakthrough Identifies Thickness as Key to Smart Surface Control

New York, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
In a significant advancement for material science reported on February 27, 2026, researchers have overturned the established consensus that strong polyelectrolyte brushes are insensitive to pH fluctuations. The study, conducted by the University of Science and Technology of China, identifies layer thickness as a critical, active variable rather than a passive geometric trait. Analysis reveals that increasing brush thickness selectively amplifies pH-dependent hydration and stiffness, while surface properties like wettability and adhesion remain constant. This discovery provides engineers with a novel mechanism to decouple bulk mechanical responses from surface interactions without altering chemical composition. By utilizing thickness as a tunable lever, this research paves the way for sophisticated applications in soft robotics, biotechnology, and advanced industrial coatings, fundamentally changing how smart interfaces are engineered.