Dongjie Zhang

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are promising for soft robotics and artificial muscles, yet their applicability is largely limited by their recovery onset temperature ( T _on ). However, conventional T _on regulation relies on compositional changes or complex post‐treatments, hindering the integration of multiple, precisely defined T _on within one system. Here, we present a simple strategy to continuously tune T _on (28°C–85°C) by controlling phase structures in chemical fixed dual‐network polymers via polymerization‐induced phase separation (PIPS). Furthermore, digital light processing (DLP) enables spatial programming of T _on within a single material, allowing the fabrication of fiber actuators with programmable energy release, exhibiting a fourfold difference in release rate and stable performance over 120 cycles. This work provides a new route for designing SMP‐based intelligent actuators, soft robotics, and adaptive systems.

Actuators play important roles in various fields due to their high intelligence. However, the present actuators are hard to achieve high load capacity and easy and fast deformation simultaneously. Here, a novel heterostructure magnetic composite material is proposed, which can work as a matrix to create various actuators by easily tailored and magnetized. Initially, a UV‐responsive stiffness‐tunable polymer (URST‐polymer) is developed using in situ encapsulation of reactive double bonds, achieving a modulus increase of up to 15 600 times after stiffening. By introducing NdFeB@PDA particles into URST‐polymer, the heterostructure matrix is created through a one‐step curing process, which features dual‐functional layers: the layer with NdFeB@PDA particles ensures excellent magnetic actuation properties, while the pure polymer layer guarantees effective UV‐induced stiffening. Consequently, the light‐responsive stiffness‐tunable magnetic actuator (LRST‐MA) made by a heterostructure matrix demonstrates rapid actuation, bistable states, and high stiffness. The URST layer also imparts excellent shape memory properties due to a special polymer network. Combining those advantages with structural and magnetization design, the matrix can be used in applications such as multi‐morphic actuators, variable stiffness grippers, deployable antennas, and emergency robots, which provide a simple and effective strategy for designing actuators.

Selective switchable adhesion has recently attracted much attention due to its wide applications in transfer printing, information transfer, and flexible electronics. However, selective adhesive materials often have a complex adhesion or preparation process, which limits their use. To overcome this problem, this study prepares a composite of liquid metal foam and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with selective photocontrolled adhesion, which can directly adhere to solids at room temperature. Utilizing the photoinduced phase transition of liquid metals, solid adhesion can be regulated by changing the backing layer modulus of the adhesive layer. Since the phase transition process is gradually completed by heat transfer from the illuminated side to the backlight side that adheres to the solid, the melting area on the backlight side can be regulated by controlling the light time, which determines the adhesion regulation area. Therefore, the accuracy of the adhesion regulation can reach less than 0.9 mm without relying on the accuracy of the infrared light. Moreover, based on the selective switchable adhesion, the selective transfer of solids with different scales can be achieved at room temperature. The findings of this study may provide strategies for the simple preparation of selective adhesive materials and the improvement of control accuracy.

The development of intelligent reversible reconfigurable metamaterials has great significance in constructing three-dimensional metamaterials and introducing reversible tunability into metamaterials. Here, we introduce an intelligent metamaterial consisting of a two-way shape memory polymer (2W-SMP) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) actuator substrate and a patterned flexible-rigid film. Mechanical buckling of the 2W-SMP substrate was controlled by thermal stimulation. This makes it possible to afford an ability to initiate 3D structure formation or shape reconfiguration remotely in an on-demand fashion. In addition, the shape of the 2W-SMP substrate is temperature-dependent, allowing repeatable reversible deformation through temperature control after a single programming. Therefore, the electromagnetic properties of metamaterials can also be repeatedly and reversibly tuned between 9.15 and 10.82 GHz. Experimental demonstrations include the deformation and tunable electromagnetic properties of intelligent reversible reconfigurable metamaterial cells. The results create many opportunities for advanced programmable three-dimensional metamaterials.