Sunlight-Drivable\nComposite Film Using Carbon Nanopowder-doped\nPVDF and Liquid Crystal Polymer Network

Actuators based on liquid crystals have garnered significant\nattention\ndue to their potential applications in wearable technology and bionic\nsoft robots. Composite films composed of liquid crystal polymer networks\n(LCNs) and other stimulus-responsive materials exhibit the capability\nto convert external stimuli into mechanical deformation. However,\nthe development of sunlight-driven actuators presents significant\nchallenges, primarily due to the relatively low intensity of sunlight\nand the limited conversion efficiency of photothermal materials. In\nthis paper, we present a composite film fabricated using poly(vinylidene\nfluoride) doped with carbon nanopowders (PC) as a photothermal conversion\nmaterial combined with a hybrid-alignment liquid crystal polymer network\nfilm. Under the midday sun during summer, the composite film is heated\nfrom room temperature to 74.5 °C quickly, resulting in a substantial\nangle change of 235°. Additionally, the actuators fabricated\nby this composite film can demonstrate phototactic and light-avoiding\nrolling behaviors. This sunlight-drivable composite film shows considerable\npromise for the research and development of bionic devices powered\nby natural light.