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Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

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Photoprintable Photothermal Actuators for Spatially Programmable Shape Morphing.

Zepeng Cai¹, Feng Jiang¹, Zuyang Ye¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States.

|May 28, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a photoprintable strategy for smart materials using photocatalytic nanoparticles. This method enables complex, programmable shape transformations in soft actuators through localized photothermal heating.

Keywords:

bimorph photoprinting photothermal actuators plasmonic nanoparticles smart materials

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Robotics

Background:

Smart materials offer advanced functionalities for complex shape transformations.
Conventional methods for photothermal actuation face challenges in design complexity and programmability.
Localized responses often require selective illumination or modulus engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a photoprintable strategy for fabricating photoactuators with controlled nanoparticle distribution.
To enable complex and programmable shape morphing through localized photothermal heating.
To demonstrate biomimetic functionalities and miniaturization of soft actuators.

Main Methods:

Utilizing photocatalytic nanoparticles for photothermal actuation.
Employing microscale photoprinting to control nanoparticle distribution and pattern line widths (down to 20 μm).
Fabricating a bimorph actuator for demonstrating 2D to 3D shape transformation.

Main Results:

Achieved spatially controlled plasmonic nanoparticle distributions.
Demonstrated complex, programmable shape morphing via localized photothermal heating.
Successfully created a bimorph actuator that transforms into a 3D helical shape for object transport, mimicking plant tendrils.
Showcased localized photothermal actuation driving 3D morphing and enabling soft actuator miniaturization under uniform illumination.

Conclusions:

The photoprinting approach provides a straightforward platform for designing smart materials.
Programmable and biomimetic shape transformations are achievable with high precision.
This method facilitates the development of advanced soft actuators and devices.