Triple Stimuli‐Responsive Flexible Shape Memory Foams with Super‐Amphiphilicity
Xinyun Ding, Yunan Shi, Shijie Xu, Yukun Zhang, Jiang Du, Jun Qiu
Abstract
Abstract Highly porous multi‐responsive shape memory foams have unique advantages in designing 3D materials with lightweight for varied applications. Herein, a facile and efficient approach to fabricating a thermo‐, electro‐, and photo‐responsive shape memory composite foam is demonstrated. A specific multi‐step carbonization protocol is adopted for transforming commercial melamine sponge (MS) to highly porous carbon foam (CF) with robust elastic resilience, efficient electrothermal/photothermal conversions, and super‐amphiphilicity. It is a novel proposal for CF to take the dual role of the elastic supporting framework and 3D energy conversion/transmission network without any functional fillers. The composite foam cPCL@CF incorporates the CF skeleton with in situ crosslinked polycaprolactone (PCL) layers, which exhibits high conductivity (≈140 S m −1 ) and excellent light absorption (≈97.7%) in the range of 250–2500 nm. By triggering the crystalline transition of PCL, the composite foam displays sensitive electro‐ and photo‐induced shape memory effect (SME) with outstanding shape fixation ratio ( R f ) and recovery ratio ( R r ). Thanks to the super‐amphiphilicity and high electrical conductivity, the cPCL@CF composite foam can give rapid and distinguishable electric signals upon tiny drips of salt solutions or lithium‐ion battery (LIB) electrolytes, making it a new type of sensor for detecting electrolyte leakage.