A multi-responsive 3D deformable soft actuator with tunable structural color enabled by a graphene/cholesteric liquid...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Soft Robotics
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Intelligent soft robots require integrated structural color and actuation.
• Achieving reversible 3D deformability and color change in single-layer cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) actuators is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a single-layer soft actuator with multi-responsive (force, heat, light) 3D deformability and vivid structural color changes.
• To explore the use of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to enhance CLCE actuator properties.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Janus structure CLCE via controlled evaporation and RGO deposition.
• Utilizing the photothermal effect of RGO for light-induced shape transformation.
• Investigating the structural gradient and its role in reversible 3D deformations.

Main Results:

• A single-layer RGO/CLCE soft actuator was created, transforming from flat to 3D shapes via photothermal effect.
• RGO enhanced CLCE mechanical properties and color saturation, adding near-infrared (NIR) light responsiveness.
• The RGO deposition-induced structural gradient enabled multiple reversible 3D deformations.

Conclusions:

• A simple strategy for constructing single-layer 3D deformable soft actuators with tunable structural color was demonstrated.
• The developed actuator shows potential for biomimetic devices like blooming flowers, plant tendrils, and catching nets.
• This work advances the design of intelligent soft robotic systems.