A novel smart composite: from self-powered sensors to multi-responsive shape memory actuators

Soft robotics systems, including soft sensors and actuators, have attracted extensive scientific interest due to their broad applications in various fields. However, it is challenging to realize both sensing and actuating functions by one material, due to different performance requirements. Here, a novel composite with tunable functional applications from self-powered hydrogel sensors to multi-responsive actuators was developed. In the hydrogel state, the composites show high stretchability, self-adhesion and self-healing, while the fabricated hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerators possess high electrical output performance, which enables the devices to harvest biomechanical energy and serve as sensors to monitor human motion. In the dry state, the composites could exhibit thermo-, near infrared light- and humidity-induced shape memory performance, demonstrating their great potential applications as multi-responsive actuators. Furthermore, the function of the composites as self-powered sensors or multi-responsive actuators could be easily tuned on demand by adjusting the water content, which enhances their future prospects in application for soft robotics.