Swellable Metal Organic Frameworks and Ti3 C2 MXene Based Photo-Humidity Dual Responsive Soft Actuators

Soft actuators capable of responding to multiple stimuli are essential for advancing applications in robotics, bionics, and adaptive systems. Here, we fabricated a dual-responsive soft actuator film by leveraging the swelling properties of metalorganic frameworks (MOFs). Specifically, flexible MIL88 A crystals and Ti3 C2 MXene nanosheets were integrated into a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) matrix to synergistically combine humidity and light driven actuation. The MIL-88A@Ti3 C2/ PVDF film harnesses the hygroscopic swelling of MIL-88A and the photothermal conversion capability of Ti3 C2, enabling bidirectional bending responses to humidity and light stimuli. Cross-sectional SEM analyses confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of MIL-88A@ Ti3 C2 within the PVDF matrix, with interconnected channels facilitating efficient water diffusion and stress transfer. By balancing photothermal and hygroscopic effects, the actuator achieved stable intermediate configurations under combined stimuli, demonstrating programmable and self-regulating motion. This dual-responsive design overcomes the limitations of single-mode actuators, offering a versatile platform for applications in soft robotics, reconfigurable sensors, and adaptive biomedical devices.