Zhibo Zhou, Yunqing Gu, Yun Ren, Zhou Li, Denghao Wu, Zhenxing Wu, Jiegang Mou
In order to enhance the actuation performance of photoresponsive hydrogels in view of their slow response rate and limited functionality, a photoresponsive hydrogel was prepared in this study. The hydrogel was constructed with a thermo-responsive poly( N -isopropylacrylamide- co -acrylamide) (P(NIPAM-AM)) matrix cross-linked by chitosan (CS) and incorporated a photothermal conversion component based on the Fe 3+ /tannic acid (TA) complex. We characterized the hydrogel’s microscopic morphology and measured its water absorption/desorption rates, mechanical properties, temperature sensitivity, photothermal conversion ability, actuation performance, and sensing performance. Results show that adding chitosan and acrylamide together produced a more tightly cross-linked structure. This improved the hydrogel’s mechanical strength, water retention, and actuation performance. Key performance values include a maximum stress of 101 kPa, maximum strain of 100%, and maximum bending angle of 104.8°. The hydrogel achieved a fast actuation response time of 0.732 s, a bending rate of 0.22 mm/s, and a conductivity of 1.154 (Ω·m) −1 . It also demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion, NIR-responsive actuation, and conductive sensing performance. This work provides a useful strategy for developing high-performance light-responsive smart materials and a practical solution for multifunctional flexible actuators.