Bioinspired Multi-Stimuli Responsive Actuators with Synergistic Color- and Morphing-Change Abilities
writer：Xinkai Li, Jize Liu, Dongdong Li, Shaoquan Huang, Kai Huang,* and Xinxing Zhang*
keywords：actuators, cellulose nanocrystals, color-changing, infrared/humidity sensitive, multi-stimuli responses
source：期刊
specific source：Advanced Science
Issue time：2021年
The combination of complex perception, defense, and camouflage
mechanisms is a pivotal instinctive ability that equips organisms with survival
advantages. The simulations of such fascinating multi-stimuli
responsiveness, including thigmotropism, bioluminescence, color-changing
ability, and so on, are of great significance for scientists to develop novel
biomimetic smart materials. However, most biomimetic color-changing or
luminescence materials can only realize a single stimulus-response, hence the
design and fabrication of multi-stimuli responsive materials with synergistic
color-changing are still on the way. Here, a bioinspired multi-stimuli
responsive actuator with color- and morphing-change abilities is developed by
taking advantage of the assembled cellulose nanocrystals-based cholesteric
liquid crystal structure and its water/temperature response behaviors. The
actuator exhibits superfast, reversible bi-directional humidity and
near-infrared (NIR) light actuating ability (humidity: 9 s; NIR light: 16 s),
accompanying with synergistic iridescent appearance which provides a visual
cue for the movement of actuators. This work paves the way for biomimetic
multi-stimuli responsive materials and will have a wide range of applications
such as optical anti-counterfeiting devices, information storage materials, and
smart soft robots.