Kombucha Mats as Responsive Materials
Anna Nikolaidou, Panagiotis Mougkogiannis, Alessandro Chiolerio, Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi and Andrew Adamatzky
Responsive materials have attracted considerable interest because of their capacity to modify and alter their properties in reaction to external stimuli. This research explores the possibility of kombucha mats, which are a byproduct of the kombucha fermentation process, as a new and responsive material. By regulating the fermentation conditions and postprocessing methods, one can adjust the distinctive electrical, mechanical and optical properties of kombucha mats. In this study, we employ mechanical testing, electrical measurements and optical stimulation to evaluate the responsive behaviour of kombucha mats. We examine the potential applications of kombucha mats as responsive materials, focusing on smart textiles, wearable devices, biosensors, soft robotics, and biomedical devices. We provide multiple case studies that demonstrate the successful incorporation of kombucha mats into practical and adaptable systems.This study demonstrates that kombucha mats have great potential as a sustainable and effective platform for creating responsive materials with specific qualities and a wide range of uses.
Keywords: Yeasts, bacteria, kombucha, electrical activity