A Thermal-, Water-, and Near-Infrared Light-Induced Shape Memory Composite Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol and Polyaniline Fibers

A multiresponsive shape memory composite was prepared by incorporating polyaniline (PAn) fibers into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), where in situ polymerization assisted by surfactant was used to homogeneously disperse PAn fibers in a PVA matrix. The PAn fibers not only increased physical cross-linking points in the system but also served as photothermal conversion reagents, resulting in excellent water-, thermal-, and near-infrared (NIR) light-induced shape memory properties of the composites, where their light-induced shape recovery ratio and speed could be enhanced via the increase of PAn loading percentage and light power density. Moreover, the composites possessed high mechanical properties with tensile strength over 83 MPa. On the basis of these dramatic mechanical properties and shape memory properties, the composites could show high recovery stress over 6.0 MPa, which increased with the increase of temperature and PAn loading percentage. This presented composite could be a great candidate as actuator element for various applications.