Adaptive All-Fiber Actuator for Human–Environment Interaction

Abstract

A closed-loop pathway of “efficient actuation-synchronous sensing-multimodal feedback” is crucial for actuators to adapt to complex scenarios and human–environment interactions. Strategies to reconcile mechanics-guaranteed adaptive actuation with multimodal responses and perceptivity remain challenging. Through a continuous electrospinning strategy to construct a reinforced fiber-interlocked interface, a bilayer fiber membrane (TCTR) actuator composed of highly aligned fiber and hierarchical structures is developed to obtain efficient photothermal performance (22.9 °C min^–1), excellent mechanical toughness (17.9 MJ m^–3), and intuitive color changes (dark purple red to bright pale yellow with lightness variation of 68). This humidity-dominated and photothermal-assisted-responsive actuator demonstrates superior actuation response (0.67 cm^–1 s^–1) and bending curvature (7.37 cm^–1) with electro-visual cooperative perceptivity. Integrated with the actuation-triggered triboelectric self-powered sensing and synchronous thermochromic effect, the TCTR actuator can be differentially programmed to perceive material types and object temperature (with a sensitivity of 99.5%), and visualize writing paths. By optimizing fiber alignment and assembly pattern, TCTR demonstrates utility as filter material, smart mask, and electronic textile, which can sense and visualize air contamination degrees, environmental temperature, and respiratory status, as well as achieve thermal management/alarming. This work proposes materials with mechano-electrical-optical cooperation and inspires a facile strategy for human–environment interactive actuators with multiscenario adaptivity.