Light-Driven Multiple Shape and Temperature Memory Effect in Polydopamine/P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) Nanocomposites

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)-based polymers have been extensively studied for their ferroelectric, piezoelectric, dielectric, pyroelectric, and electrocaloric effects, finding applications in sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting devices. Our recent research has discovered that PVDF-based ferroelectric polymers exhibit a shape memory effect (SME) based on the ferroelectric-paraelectric (F–P) phase transition, and relaxor ferroelectric polymers possess multiple SME. Herein, we introduced polydopamine nanoparticles (PDANPs) into a P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) (TrFE: trifluoroethylene; CTFE: chlorotrifluoroethylene) (66.4/27.1/6.5) terpolymer matrix, which exhibited both light-driven shape memory and multiple SME. The light-driven properties primarily originate from the photothermal conversion capability of PDANPs, while the multiple SME is attributed to the relaxor F–P phase transition of the terpolymer itself. According to the experimental results, the sample with 1 wt % filler exhibits the optimal shape memory performance, achieving a shape recovery rate (Rr) of up to 96.1% under the same light exposure. Additionally, the nanocomposites demonstrate a temperature memory effect (TME) and controlled continuous deformation under light irradiation at different wavelengths, suggesting potential applications in light wave determination and manipulation of SME by changing light wavelength. This study not only expands the functional versatility of PVDF-based ferroelectric polymers but also provides other insights into their applications in light-controlled smart devices and related fields.