At small scales, shape-programmable magnetic materials and self-sensing conductive materials have an enticing potential for realizing the functionalities that are unattainable by traditional machines. This work reports a facile preparation method of aself-sensing magnetism-responsive anisotropic films (SMAF) in which magnetic materials and conductive materials can be predesigned, oriented, and patterned without requiring an external magnetic field generator or other expensive devices. A variety of shaped magnetoactive films with complex chain-orientation structures that can achieve advanced actuation functions have been developed, such as magnetically driven flowers, windmills, and leaves. It is also verified that the as-prepared samples coated with the sensing layer can distinguish different actuation modes, such as inward bending, outward bending, twisting, and combined deformation, which would be conducive to further exploration and development of directionally responsive applications in the smart actuating system and soft robotics.
Keywords: actuation; magnetic; sensor; smart material; soft robot.