An Ultrahigh-Strength Contraction-Driven Actuator Operated under Low Voltage: Remarkable Deformability and Robust Radiation-Resistant Capability

Abstract Soft actuators that combine high load-bearing capacity, electromagnetic interference shielding, and infrared stealth are critically demanded for robotics operating in extreme and harsh environments, yet conventional expansion-driven designs are typically limited by low output force, high driving voltage, and poor environmental tolerance. Hence, we report a contraction-driven strategy and fabricate a multilayer TPU/M/PI soft actuator by integrating microcellular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a vacuum-filtered MXene film, and a polyimide (PI) layer. Exploiting the electrothermal effect of MXene, the microcellular TPU releases its foaming-induced residual stress and undergoes controllable volume contraction under a low driving voltage of only 2 V. The optimized actuator lifts a stable load, achieving 24 times its own weight, while its bending deformation is flexibly regulated by the applied voltage and PI thickness. Meanwhile, it exhibits superior X-band EMI shielding effectiveness of over 20 dB and favorable infrared stealth capability. This work provides a feasible contraction-driven route to multifunctional, high-performance soft actuators, holding promise for flexible robotics and intelligent devices in special application scenarios.