Light induced soft actuators have broad application prospects where non-contact stimulation and remote control are required. However, such soft actuators cannot achieve uniform contraction easily due to the weak penetration of light. Here, with the aid of vertical distribution of Sm 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , and Nd 2 O 3 as selectively photothermal fillers along film thickness, a near-infrared (NIR) light (1064, 980, and 808 nm) induced soft actuator based on shape-memory polymer composites, which has a large thickness up to 2 mm is reported. The results show that tri-layer films present uniform contraction and could lift a weight of 101.44 g by 8 mm under simultaneous irradiations of three NIR light beams. It is believed that the vertical distribution of selectively photothermal fillers provides a new strategy to create light induced soft actuators that can present uniform shape reconfiguration and high pulling force, further filling the gap between material concept and engineering applications.

SELF‐HEALING MATERIALS Frontispiece: In article number 2100106 by Liang Fang, Chunhua Lu, and co‐workers, light induced self‐healing composite coatings are prepared and used for inner walls of tubes. Silane‐modified epoxy chains facilitate crack closure before healing due to reversible crosslinking based on the Diels–Alder reaction. CeO2 nanoparticles are grown on graphene nanosheets for both photothermal effects and anti‐corrosion.

Photothermally induced self-healing coatings are widely reported, while their application scenarios are rarely taken with concern. In addition, there is a need to achieve the balance between good properties and self-healing behaviors for closing the gap between academic research and engineering applications. Here, self-healing composite coatings are designed based on silane-modified epoxy chains with reversible crosslinking points and multifunctional fillers of cerium oxide nanoparticles grown on graphene nanosheets, and their applications are demonstrated for restricted regions. Diglycidyl ether-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) is co-polymerized with diglycidylether of bisphenol A with the weight ratio of 1/99-10/90 to achieve surface-tension driven crack closure, while dangling furan groups contribute to reversible crosslinking points via Diels-Alder reaction. Cerium oxide nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets enhance anti-corrosion properties, and graphene nanosheets also act as photothermal fillers. The results show that pencil hardness, polarized resistance, and coating resistance are highly improved via the introduction of multifunctional fillers at 1 and 2 phr. Good thermally and photothermally induced self-healing is demonstrated. This work provides a new application thought for light triggered self-healing coatings that can be used for restricted regions including inner walls of pipelines and reactors.