Soft robotics are key to wearable tech, things like Jovian wet-suits in Sweet, and also humanoid androids such as followers. This Science Daily article describes a problem and breakthrough along that line. 

"the research introduced the innovative concept of bifunctional polymer. By forming a one-dimensional ion channel several nanometers wide inside the polymer matrix, which is hard as glass, a superionic polymer electrolyte with both high ionic conductivity and mechanical strength was achieved."