Development of electric- and near-infrared light-driven CNTs/EVA shape memory composite actuators with strain sensing and encrypted information transmitting functionalities

Generally, the shape memory polymers (SMP)-based information carriers are strongly dependent on the integrity of their bodies, and once the information carriers are damages, their information is lost. In this study, the carbon nanotubes/ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (CNTs/EVA) SMP composite based information carriers with electric- and light-driven modes were prepared by hot-pressing and swelling ultrasonic method. The embedded CNTs layer on the surface of the composites provided condition for Joule effect , which enabled the composites to achieve electric-driven recovery at 50 % pre-strain and could lift 857 times their weight. Since the composites had crystallization-induced elongation and melt-induced contraction performance, the strain range could be accurately controlled by the programmed control of the power supply to achieve information transmission . Combined with the function of strain sensing, the strain signals were generated by the electric-driven and the resistance signals were generated by the light-driven were used as the communication symbol, which are not limited by their physical integrity. This study provides an experimental reference for SMP with multiple driving modes and driving-sensing integration functions, enriches the SMP-based information carrier's processing and transmission modes, and expands the function and application field of SMP.