Abstract: Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Abstract: A fiber computer has a fiber body including electrically insulating fiber body material along the length of the fiber body. Electrical conductors are disposed within the fiber body and are operative to transmit electrical power, electrical ground, clock signals, and data signals through the fiber body. Input units disposed within the fiber body accept external stimuli. Microcontroller microchips disposed within the fiber body process stimuli accepted by an input unit. Memory module microchips within the fiber body store data and communicate with microcontroller microchips. Output units produce an output directed out of the fiber body. A clock signal generator within the fiber body synchronizes operation of input units, microcontroller microchips, memory module microchips, and output units.

Abstract: Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Abstract: Provided is a fiber having an elongated, unsupported, three-dimensional fiber body with a fiber body length and at least one fiber material disposed along the fiber body length. The at least one fiber material has a viscosity lower than about 108 Poise at a common thermal fiber draw temperature. At least one topological pattern is disposed on at least one surface of the fiber body and extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the fiber body length. To form the fiber, there is assembled a fiber preform including at least one preform material. A surface of at least one preform material is patterned and arranged as a fiber preform surface, providing a topological pattern on a fiber preform surface. The fiber preform is thermally drawn into an elongated fiber at a fiber draw temperature at which all preform materials have a viscosity lower than about 108 Poise.