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.
Authors
- Jiatao Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7414-4902)
- Yahe Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4740-9447)
- Akang Chen
- Mengyao Su
- N. Li
- Shenggui Liu
Institutions
- Beijing Institute of Technology (CN)
- Xiamen University (CN)
- Xiamen University of Technology (CN)
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
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China