Multi-responsive shape memory porous composites for self-powered sensors and self-sensing actuators

[Display omitted] •A porous composite for self-powered sensors and self-sensing actuators was developed.•The porous composite exhibited excellent multi-responsive shape memory performance.•The porous composites based TENG showed high electrical output performance.•The fabricated TENG showed application prospect as pressure and humidity sensors.•The self-monitoring function was realized based on the shape memory effect and TENG. The integration of materials with multiple functions, like actuating, sensing, and self-powering, is a key focus of soft robotics attributed to their promising applications in various fields. However, integrating these functions in a single material still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we proposed a polyvinyl alcohol/ multiwalled carbon nanotube porous composite with multi-responsive shape memory actuating and self-powered sensing functions. For actuators, the porous composites exhibited excellent thermo, near-infrared light, and water-induced shape memory performance with high shape fixation and shape recovery ratio over 94 %. For sensors, the fabricated porous materials-based triboelectric nanogenerator (PTENGs) exhibited high output performance with power density of 4.57 W m−2, enabling their use as pressure and humidity sensors. Moreover, it was found that the output performance of PTENG can be adjusted utilizing the shape memory effect of porous composites, while the self-monitoring function of shape memory actuators was achieved through the self-powered sensing of PTENG. This work presents a new strategy for developing an integrated material with multi-responsive actuating and self-powered sensing functions.