Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light
Published on: August 17, 2017
Transparency-Photothermal Efficiency Coordinated Dual-Invisible Soft Robots
Mengyao Su1,2, Shenggui Liu3, Naiqing Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Molecular Materials and High-throughput Manufacturing, MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, MIIT Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
Researchers developed transparent soft robots using atomically thin copper sulfide (AT-CuS) nanosheets for invisible near-infrared (NIR) control. This breakthrough enables covert monitoring and agile locomotion without compromising visibility.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Optics
Background:
- Soft robots require seamless integration and unobtrusive operation for applications like covert monitoring and camouflage.
- Near-infrared (NIR) photo-actuation is ideal for invisible control but faces a trade-off between strong responses and material transparency.
- Existing methods often require dark materials and high filler loadings, compromising optical integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve spectral decoupling of visible transparency and photothermal responsiveness in soft robots.
- To develop a novel material system for efficient and invisible NIR-actuation.
- To demonstrate the functionality of these soft robots in amphibious locomotion.
Main Methods:
- Interfacial engineering of two-dimensional atomically thin CuS (AT-CuS) nanosheets.
- Formation of a stable monolayer dispersion of AT-CuS in a polymer matrix.
- Characterization of photothermal efficiency and visible-light transmittance.
Main Results:
- Achieved a record-breaking photothermal efficiency of 96.3% in the NIR-II window.
- Maintained over 80% visible-light transmittance at an ultralow AT-CuS loading of 0.01 wt %.
- Demonstrated rapid NIR responses (>130°C within 2 s) and agile amphibious locomotion in "dual-invisible" soft robots.
Conclusions:
- Successfully decoupled visible transparency and NIR photothermal responsiveness through interfacial engineering of AT-CuS nanosheets.
- Developed highly transparent and efficiently photo-actuated soft robots with imperceptible bodies and hidden NIR control.
- The "dual-invisible" soft robots show potential for advanced applications in covert operations and environmental monitoring.
