Nature-Inspired Photoresponsive Bionic Robots Using the Tellurium-MoS₂-Graphene Hybrid Structure

Motivated by biological natural living things, multifunctional soft robots have become an exciting system that can navigate by overcoming difficult situations. Photothermal self-excited actuators offer potential for self-driven soft robotics since they provide wireless power and control. However, it remains challenging to achieve photoresponsive actuation, which can serve as basic component in soft-bioelectronics. Tellurium (Te)-based nanostructures can be a promising candidate and offer greater infrared-photoresponsive properties. Therefore, in this work, we have systematically studied the effect of Te nanoparticles on the two-dimensional hybrid structure for advanced photoresponsive actuation under near-infrared (NIR) light exposure, which reaches ∼85 °C within ∼5 s. This approach substantially improves the photothermal behavior including thermal conversion (η ∼ 12.7%), large bending (∼5.74 cm^-1), and fast response (∼250 ms), by increasing the internal temperature of the system. Leveraging this strategy, we have developed soft bionic "Dragonfly", and it demonstrates multiple performances including controllable bending and wing movement at a maximum speed. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation and in situ Raman spectroscopy measurement reveal the photoactuation behavior of the system. This research proposes new idea of hybrid structure and exhibits substantial photothermal conversion efficiency with significant deformation for soft bionic applications.