Actuators that can convert environmental stimuli into mechanical work are widely used in
intelligent systems, robots, and micromechanics. To produce robust and sensitive actuators …

Liquid crystals are the basis of a pervasive technology of the modern era. Yet, as the display
market becomes commoditized, researchers in industry, government and academia are …

Stimuli-responsive polymer gels have received considerable attention due to their singular
mechanical properties, which make them materials of choice for niche applications. Polymer …

Programmable photoactuation enabled by graphene: Graphene sheets aligned in liquid
crystalline elastomers are capable of absorbing near-infrared light. They thereafter act as …

The accessible compendium of polymers in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) Carbon nanotubes
(CNTs)—extremely thin tubes only a few nanometers in diameter but able to attain lengths …

We review the current state of the polymer–carbon nanotube composites field. The article
first covers key points in dispersion and stabilization of nanotubes in a polymer matrix, with …

Photoactuators that can produce a reversible mechanical deformation under light stimuli
have attracted tremendous interest in the recent years owing to the advantages of abundant …

This paper reports large light-induced reversible and elastic responses of graphene
nanoplatelet (GNP) polymer composites. Homogeneous mixtures of GNP …

The addition of nanomaterials to polymers can result not only in significant material property
improvements, but also assist in creating entirely new composite functionalities. By …

Photomechanical actuator with large deformation and rapid response is highly desirable for
smart textiles and soft robots. However, the conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) …