Figure 1.

Proposed schematic illustration of preparation of aligned hydrogel applying a directional freezing process. a) The precursor aqueous solution of clay‐Ns, DMAA, and TiO₂‐NP in water. b,c) The monomer‐nanoparticle composite is excluded from the directionally freezing of the orientated ice crystals. d) The monomer is cryopolymerized to produce hydrogel with an aligned structure. e) SEM image of the freeze‐dried polymer matrix with aligned structure. f) The aligned ionogel can be obtained by adding ionic liquid to freeze‐dried aligned polymer matrix.