Rapid Near‐Infrared Light Responsive Shape Memory Polymer Hybrids and Novel Chiral Actuators Based on Photothermal W18O49 Nanowires

Abstract Photoresponsive actuators are built by introducing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG)‐modified W 18 O 49 nanowires into cross‐linked polyethylene glycol diacrylate (cPEGDA) polymer matrices. Due to the good compatibility, OEG‐W 18 O 49 NWs disperse well and increase the crystallinity of cPEGDA matrices even in high loading concentrations (4.0 wt%). The cPEGDA/W 18 O 49 nanocomposites show efficient photothermal transition and rapid shape memory behaviors. They can raise the local temperature to 160 °C in only 8.5 s and recover the initial shape within 10 s. Making use of the broad and strong absorption property of W 18 O 49 , the cPEGDA/W 18 O 49 NW actuators respond to both ultraviolet and near‐infrared light and make contraction and bending motions. Furthermore, by utilizing oriented chain segments of the crystalline polymer and vector sum of shape recovery forces, the cPEGDA/W 18 O 49 NW hybrid actuators exhibit stable helical deformation (right‐handed and left‐handed).