Bio-inspired fluorescence color-tunable soft actuators with a self-healing and reconfigurable nature

The adaptive behaviors of organisms in response to different environments can inspire the development of smart materials. These biomimetic color-changing actuating materials (BCCAMs) with complex shape memory (SM), self-healing, shape reconfigurable and reprocessing properties may be exactly what the flexible actuators/robots/electronic skins need. Here, we prepared an ultra-high strain (similar to 1600%) soft actuation material with fluorescence changes, self-healing, and SM performance under a single stimulus by a simple method. At the same time, we developed a simple strategy based on welding to achieve actuators that have a reconfiguring three-dimensional (3D) deformation and medium temperature reprocessing. The resulting 3D soft actuators can achieve effective coordination of these functions. Flexible actuators with multiple functions that can be triggered by a single switch are expected to have value in soft robots, flexible electronic skins, and so on. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study developed a soft actuation material with ultra-high strain, fluorescence changes, self-healing, and shape memory performance through a simple method. By using welding, actuators with three-dimensional reconfiguration and medium temperature reprocessing were achieved. These flexible actuators with multiple functions that can be triggered by a single switch have significant value in soft robots and flexible electronic skins.