We introduced a new concept for fabricating solvent stimulus polymeractuators with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. This was accomplished byintegrating porous architectures and electrostatic complexation gradients in apoly(ionic liquid) membrane that bears ionic liquid species for solventsorption. In contact with 1.5 mol% of acetone molecules in water, the actuatormembrane (1 mm x 20 mm x 30 um) bent into a closed loop. While the interactionbetween solvents and the polymer drives the actuation, the continuous gradientin complexation degree combined with the porous architecture optimizes theactuation, giving it a high sensitivity and even the ability to discriminatebutanol solvent isomers. The membrane is also capable of cooperative actuation.The design concept is easy to implement and applicable to other polyelectrolytesystems, which substantially underpins their potentials in smart and sensitivesignaling microrobotics/devices.
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