Engineering intricate microstructures in electroactive polymer ionic liquid blends

Designing multifunctional soft materials often relies on the ability to create customizable complex patterns with a high degree of precision and control. This study presents a noninvasive technique for achieving such complex microstructures in polymer ionic liquid (PIL) blends using a transverse patterned electric field. Grounded in reaction–diffusion dynamics, the Poisson–Boltzmann–Nernst–Planck (PBNP) framework is employed to model the kinetics of pattern formation. The PBNP approach enables the creation of diverse architectures, ranging from totally asymmetric “capillary networks” to ordered periodic “mandala patterns.” The consistency of these patterns is further examined through the intermittent exposure of the PIL blend to the electric field. Structural characterization reveals that the presence of electric fields significantly accelerates domain growth and enhances ordering. Integration with Physics-Informed Neural Networks is proposed as a promising avenue for future scalable, mesh-free simulations. These findings provide key insights into electric field-driven pattern formation and establish a noninvasive strategy for creating microstructured materials with applications in microfluidics, bioengineering, and soft material design.