Bioinspired smart polymeric materials that undergo three-dimensional
shape deformation in response to specific stimuli have gained significant
attention in the field of soft robotics and intelligent devices. Despite
the substantial advancements in soft robotics, there is a growing
demand for the design of multistimuli-responsive soft actuators using
a single layer of material due to its reduced complexity and ease
of manufacturing and durability. Here, we report the actuation characteristics
of a single-layer, dual-responsive soft actuator that overcomes the
commonly encountered delamination issues often associated with bilayer
systems by incorporating PEDOT:PSS with cassava starch. This soft
actuator exhibits deformations in response to various solvent vapors,
such as water, alcohol, and acetone. Remarkably, it demonstrates opposite
deformations upon exposure to water and alcohol vapors. Additionally,
the actuator responds to light triggers and folds upon exposure to
sunlight and infrared light. The degree of folding can be precisely
controlled by adjusting the intensity of the light source. Furthermore,
the periodic geometric patterns imposed on the surface of the actuator
provide an additional handle to control the bending axis. For proof
of concept, we leverage the actuation capabilities of our actuator
to showcase a range of potential applications, including its usage
in wearable textiles, crawler robots, smart curtains, push-and-pull
machines, and smart lifts.