Light-Fueled Hydrogel Actuators with Controlled Deformation and Photocatalytic Activity.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogel actuators have shown great promise in underwater robotic applications as they can generate controllable shape transformations upon stimulation due to their ability to absorb and release water reversibly. Herein, a photoresponsive anisotropic hydrogel actuator is developed from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and gold-decorated carbon nitride (Au/g-C₃ N₄ ) nanoparticles. Carbon nitride nanoparticles endow hydrogel actuators with photocatalytic properties, while their reorientation and mobility driven by the electrical field provide anisotropic properties to the surrounding network. A variety of light-fueled soft robotic functionalities including controllable and programmable shape-change, gripping, and locomotion is elicited. A responsive flower-like phot

SUBMITTER: Chen P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9731706 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature