In-air fast response and high speed jumping and rolling of a light-driven hydrogel actuator

TLDR

Stimuli‑responsive hydrogel actuators hold promise for many applications, but conventional swelling‑based actuation is slow and requires a wet environment. The actuator functions by coupling the elasticity of a poly(sodium acrylate) hydrogel with bubbles generated by photothermal heating of embedded magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The light‑powered actuator achieves ultrafast in‑air motion (up to 1.6 m/s), rapid 800 ms response, and ~15 cm jumps, while offering controllable velocity and direction for applications in mobile robotics, soft robotics, sensors, and drug delivery.

Abstract

Abstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators have promising applications in various fields. However, the typical hydrogel actuation relies on the swelling and de-swelling process caused by osmotic-pressure changes, which is slow and normally requires the presence of water environment. Herein, we report a light-powered in-air hydrogel actuator with remarkable performances, including ultrafast motion speed (up to 1.6 m/s), rapid response (as fast as 800 ms) and high jumping height (~15 cm). The hydrogel is operated based on a fundamentally different mechanism that harnesses the synergetic interactions between the binary constituent parts, i.e. the elasticity of the poly(sodium acrylate) hydrogel, and the bubble caused by the photothermal effect of the embedded magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The current hydrogel actuator exhibits controlled motion velocity and direction, making it promising for a wide range of mobile robotics, soft robotics, sensors, controlled drug delivery and other miniature device applications.