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Recently, actuating materials based on carbon nanotubes or graphene have been widely studied. However, present carbon-based actuating materials are mostly driven by a single stimulus (humidity, light, electricity, etc.), respectively, which means that the application conditions are limited. Here, a new kind of multiresponsive actuating material which can be driven by humidity, light, and electricity is proposed, so it can be used in various conditions. The fabrication is based on the simplest pencil-on-paper method, in which the pencil and paper are both low-cost and easily obtained daily materials. The actuation effect is more remarkable due to a dual-mode actuation mechanism, which leads to an ultralarge actuation (bending curvature up to 2.6 cm−1). Elaborately designed, the actuator can further exhibit a bidirectional bending actuation, which is a significant improvement compared with previous reported thermal actuators. What is more, a colorful biomimetic flower and a smart curtain are also fabricated, fully utilizing the printable characteristic of the paper and multiresponsive characteristic of the actuator. It is assumed that the newly designed actuating material has great potential in the fields of lab-on-paper devices, artificial muscles, robotics, biomimics, and smart household materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design and fabrication of electrically controlled paper actuators that operate based on the dimensional changes that occur in paper when the moisture absorbed on the surface of the cellulose fibers changes. These actuators are called 'Hygroexpansive Electrothermal Paper Actuators' (HEPAs). The actuators are made from paper, conducting polymer, and adhesive tape. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and can be fabricated using simple printing techniques. The central element of the HEPAs is a porous conducting path (used to provide electrothermal heating) that changes the moisture content of the paper and causes actuation. This conducting path is made by embedding a conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) within the paper, and thus making a paper/polymer composite that retains the porosity and hydrophilicity of paper. Different types of HEPAs (straight, precurved, and creased) achieved different types of motions (e.g., bending motion, accordion type motion). A theoretical model for their behavior is proposed. These actuators have been used for the manipulation of liquids and for the fabrication of an optical shutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of conventional actuators have only actuation functions, lacking in real‐time sensing signal feedback. In article number 1806057, Luzhuo Chen and co‐workers report a graphene‐based actuator with integrated‐sensing functions. The robot hand based on the actuator can not only manipulate an object, but also sense every actuation state. This work will open new application fields in integrated‐multifunctional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible actuators have important applications in artificial muscles, robotics, optical devices, and so on. However, most of the conventional actuators have only actuation function, lacking in real‐time sensing signal feedbacks. Here, to break the limitation and add functionality in conventional actuators, a graphene‐based actuator with integrated‐sensing function is reported, which avoids the dependence on image post‐processing for actuation detection and realizes real‐time measurement of the shape‐deformation amplitudes of the actuator. The actuator is able to show a large bending actuation (curvature of 1.1 cm−1) based on a dual‐mode actuation mechanism when it is driven by near infrared light. Meanwhile, the relative resistance change of the actuator is −17.5%. The sensing function is attributed to piezoresistivity and thermoresistivity of the reduced graphene oxide and paper composite. This actuator can be used as a strain sensor to monitor human motions. A smart gripper based on the actuators demonstrates perfect integration of the actuating and sensing functions, which can not only grasp and release an object, but also sense every actuation state of the actuator. The developed integrated‐sensing actuator is hopeful to open new application fields in soft robotics, artificial muscles, flexible wearable devices, and other integrated‐multifunctional devices. A graphene‐based actuator with integrated‐sensing function is developed. It realizes real‐time measurements of the shape deformation of the actuator. A smart gripper based on the actuator demonstrates perfect integration of actuating and sensing functions. It can not only grasp and release an object, but also sense every actuation state of the actuator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G. M. Whitesides and co‐workers describe, on page 2446, the design and fabrication of electrically controlled paper actuators made from paper, conducting polymer, and adhesive tape. The central element of the actuators is a porous conducting path providing electrothermal heating that changes the moisture content of the paper and causes actuation. These simple and inexpensive devices can achieve different types of motion such as bending and accordion‐type motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]