title: An instant multi-responsive porous polymer actuator driven by solvent molecule sorption.
abstract: Fast actuation speed, large-shape deformation and robust responsiveness are critical to synthetic soft actuators. A simultaneous optimization of all these aspects without trade-offs remains unresolved. Here we describe porous polymer actuators that bend in response to acetone vapour (24 kPa, 20 °C) at a speed of an order of magnitude faster than the state-of-the-art, coupled with a large-scale locomotion. They are meanwhile multi-responsive towards a variety of organic vapours in both the dry and wet states, thus distinctive from the traditional gel actuation systems that become inactive when dried. The actuator is easy-to-make and survives even after hydrothermal processing (200 °C, 24 h) and pressing-pressure (100 MPa) treatments. In addition, the beneficial responsiveness is transferable, being able to turn 'inert' objects into actuators through surface coating. This advanced actuator arises from the unique combination of porous morphology, gradient structure and the interaction between solvent molecules and actuator materials.
authors: Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors: John W C
authors: JW
authors: Dunlop
authors: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
authors: Xunlin
authors: X
authors: Qiu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors: Feihe
authors: F
authors: Huang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors: Zibin
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Heyda
authors: Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Dzubiella
authors: Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Antonietti
authors: Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors: Jiayin
authors: J
authors: Yuan