Light-stimulated paper/polymer bilayer actuators incorporated with photosensitizers for enhanced actuation

Photostimulated actuators can be remotely actuated and operated at high speed, making them potential candidates for soft robotics. In this study, a paper-based actuator activated solely by light was developed for weight lifting. A polymer blend, primarily made of agarose-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS), as a photosensitizer, MXenes and methylene blue (MB) was employed on a paper substrate to produce a bilayer structure using a paintbrush technique. The resultant paper/polymer bilayer actuator was activated by light and showed effective bending and weight-lifting capabilities, which can contribute to wireless paper soft robotics and biohybrid robots.