Transparency‐Photothermal Efficiency Coordinated Dual‐Invisible Soft Robots

Soft robots capable of seamless environmental integration and unobtrusive operation are essential for covert monitoring, camouflage, and preserving optical integrity. Near-infrared (NIR) photo-actuation offers an ideal route for invisible control; however, it is traditionally governed by a fundamental trade-off where strong photo-responses necessitate dark materials and high filler loadings that compromise transparency. Here, we report a system achieving spectral decoupling of visible transparency and photothermal responsiveness through interfacial engineering of two-dimensional atomically thin CuS (AT-CuS) nanosheets to form a stable monolayer dispersion in the polymer matrix. Such material reaches a record-breaking photothermal efficiency of 96.3% in the NIR-II window. At an ultralow loading of 0.01 wt % At-CuS, the composite maintains over 80% visible-light transmittance while exhibiting rapid NIR responses (>130°C within 2 s). We further demonstrate "dual-invisible" soft robots with imperceptible bodies and hidden NIR control, where the body and the NIR control signal remain imperceptible, performing agile amphibious locomotion.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2026-07-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.74147
Primary Topic
Advanced Materials and Mechanics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Transparency‐Photothermal Efficiency Coordinated Dual‐Invisible Soft Robots

Jiatao Zhang, Yahe Wu, Akang Chen, Mengyao Su et al.
Advanced Materials
Advanced Materials and Mechanics
article

Transparency‐Photothermal Efficiency Coordinated Dual‐Invisible Soft Robots

Jiatao Zhang, Yahe Wu, Akang Chen, Mengyao Su, N. Li, Shenggui Liu
article en

Abstract

Soft robots capable of seamless environmental integration and unobtrusive operation are essential for covert monitoring, camouflage, and preserving optical integrity. Near-infrared (NIR) photo-actuation offers an ideal route for invisible control; however, it is traditionally governed by a fundamental trade-off where strong photo-responses necessitate dark materials and high filler loadings that compromise transparency. Here, we report a system achieving spectral decoupling of visible transparency and photothermal responsiveness through interfacial engineering of two-dimensional atomically thin CuS (AT-CuS) nanosheets to form a stable monolayer dispersion in the polymer matrix. Such material reaches a record-breaking photothermal efficiency of 96.3% in the NIR-II window. At an ultralow loading of 0.01 wt % At-CuS, the composite maintains over 80% visible-light transmittance while exhibiting rapid NIR responses (>130°C within 2 s). We further demonstrate "dual-invisible" soft robots with imperceptible bodies and hidden NIR control, where the body and the NIR control signal remain imperceptible, performing agile amphibious locomotion.

Advanced Materials
Beijing Institute of Technology (CN), Xiamen University (CN), Xiamen University of Technology (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Advanced Materials and Mechanics
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