Light‐Driven Actuation in Synthetic Polymers: A Review from Fundamental Concepts to Applications

Light‐driven actuation of synthetic polymers is an emerging field of interest because it offers simple remote addressing without complicated hydraulic, electric, or magnetic systems. Reviews on this area predominantly emphasize on the development of mechanical motions like bending, twisting, folding, etc. However, the scientific and fundamental aspects of these materials are critical in order to expand applications and industrial relevance. Polymer actuators driven by light, not only comprise soft actuators (large deformations at low stress) but also include stiff actuators (high actuation stress at low strain). Synthetic polymeric materials with photo‐responsive additives together with underlying mechanisms, processing parameters, and final properties are required to broaden the scope of the field. In particular, parameters like actuation stress, actuation strain, and work capacity have been given limited attention in the past and are discussed extensively. This work gives a comprehensive critical review on all light‐driven synthetic polymer actuators, their actuating mechanisms, and materials. A holistic perspective together with an insight into future prospects can lead academia and industry toward future innovations and applications of these exciting functional materials. Light being used as a stimulus to mechanically actuate synthetic polymers is an emerging area. These materials are best suited for photo‐thermal actuation because of their high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and tailored mechanical properties. Building on the underpinning science of actuating mechanisms, the review covers a broad range of polymer materials from soft to ultra‐stiff and their potential applications.