Fast and Multifunctional Optically‐Driven Actuators based on Stable, Efficient, and Superhydrophobic Photothermal Paper Films

Abstract Remotely controlled self‐propelled optically‐driven actuators are increasingly attractive for sensing and robotic applications. However, complexities in material synthesis, multifunctionality, dynamic response, and the response rate limit their use for wide‐ranging application. This work uses a simple and efficient spraying method to prepare optically‐driven actuators based on TiN@PDMS‐PVDF (TiN@polydimethylsiloxane‐polyvinylidene difluoride) papers. The actuator exhibits stable superhydrophobicity for photothermal heating and corrosive solutions with a contact angle and sliding angle of 169.9° and 2.3°, respectively. The superhydrophobic actuators exhibit an efficient photothermal conversion aided by a very high optical absorption of the material approaching 97%. The optically‐driven actuator based on the TiN@PDMS‐PVDF paper exhibit a fast response and movement on the water surface. A 1.5 W cm⁻² laser‐driven actuator yields a response time of 0.84 s, with its linear velocity approaching 10.1 mm s⁻¹. The multifunctional optical‐driven actuators can easily perform operations such as linear and rotational motion optically engineered to avoid obstacles, transport cargo, and clean oil over a water surface. These fast, multifunctional, superhydrophobic actuators have bright prospects in many fields, such as bioengineering, environmental protection, and micro‐robots.