A Highly Stretchable Tough Polymer Actuator Driven by Acetone Vapors

Stimuli-responsive polymer materials having high stretchability and robust toughness are more promising for applications in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and sensors. Herein, a micropatterned single-layered polymer soft actuator is reported that can be stretched to 600% of its original length with the strength reaching 40 MPa. The prominent mechanical stretchability comes from the modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by using 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MS), followed by the treatment with mechanical uniaxial stretching. The uniaxial stretching induces microscopic patterning of the PVDF/MS composite actuator, making it capable of kinematics-controllable movements in response to acetone vapors. The mechanically strong single-layered vaporesponsive PVDF/MS actuator overcomes many drawbacks of polymer bilayer actuators that might undergo interfacial failure and inactivation caused by less-than-perfect mechanical properties. Driven by acetone vapors, the PVDF/MS actuator demonstrates highly efficient energy conversion and sensing abilities with simulating artificial muscles for inducing the movements of various paper dolls.