2026-10-14T11:55:06Z https://www.scidb.cn/oai

10.57760/sciencedb.43910 2026-07-29T17:08:31Z

2026-07-29 Plant-root-inspired azobenzene-based photoresponsive actuator with fast response and environmental stability for light-driven robotics doi:10.57760/sciencedb.43910 en Photoresponsive soft materials have garnered considerable attention and demonstrated wide-ranging applications due to their compelling advantages, such as remote controllability and reversible actuation. Despite the promise, significant challenges persist, including slow response rates, intricate fabrication processes, and limited stability. Here, inspired by plant roots, we develop an azobenzene-based photoresponsive actuator through a straightforward one-step strategy. Under unilateral UV illumination, the prepared Azo–PDMS film exhibits rapid and reversible bending, with the photodeformation process completed within 2 s. Meanwhile, the Azo–PDMS actuator shows environmental robustness, retaining favorable photoresponsive capability, even after exposure to harsh conditions, including low (−20 °C) and high (150 °C) temperatures, strong acid (pH = 1), and strong alkali (pH = 14). Further, several light-driven soft robots are developed to accomplish diverse locomotion modes even under harsh conditions, including swimming, crawling and rolling. These results advance our understanding of the azobenzene-based photoresponsive actuator and provide a rational design strategy for light-driven soft robotics. soft materials; Azo–PDMS; photoresponsive capability Li, Peixuan Li, Yan Li, Jinrong Tian, Dongliang Li, Long Song ,Fan PUBLIC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ dataset Science Data Bank