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Polarization‐Modulated Multidirectional Photothermal Actuators
Author(s) -
Li Zhiwei,
Ye Zuyang,
Han Lili,
Fan Qingsong,
Wu Chaolumen,
Ding Deng,
Xin Huolin L.,
Myung Nosang Vincent,
Yin Yadong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202006367
Subject(s) - materials science , actuator , photothermal effect , polarization (electrochemistry) , photothermal therapy , plasmon , bimorph , laser , nanorod , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , optics , computer science , physics , chemistry , artificial intelligence
Photothermal actuators have attracted increasing attention due to their ability to convert light energy into mechanical deformation and locomotion. This work reports a freestanding, multidirectional photothermal robot that can walk along a predesigned pathway by modulating laser polarization and on–off switching. Magnetic–plasmonic hybrid Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanorods are synthesized using an unconventional templating approach. The coupled magnetic and plasmonic anisotropy allows control of the rod orientation, plasmonic excitation, and photothermal conversion by simply applying a magnetic field. Once the rods are fixed with desirable orientations in a bimorph actuator by magnetic‐field‐assisted lithography, the bending of the actuator can be controlled by switching the laser polarization. A bipedal robot is created by coupling the rod orientation with the alternating actuation of its two legs. Irradiating the robot by a laser with alternating or fixed polarization synergistically results in basic movement (backward and forward) and turning (including left‐, right‐, and U‐turn), respectively. A complex walk along predesigned pathways can be potentially programmed by combining the movement and turning modes of the robots. This strategy provides an alternative driving mechanism for preparing functional soft robots, thus breaking through the limitations in the existing systems in terms of light sources and actuation manners.