LAUSR

DOI: 10.1002/adom.202001743 Various stimuli have been implemented to trigger deformation of the LCPs. Compared to other stimuli, such as by heat, magnetic fields, acoustic waves, pressure, pH variation, humidity, and electricity, light stimulus is ideal because it enables remote and noncontact manipulation and can be conveniently and precisely tuned in terms of intensity, wavelength, and polarization.[5] Therefore, photodeformable LCPs are capable of converting light energy into mechanical actuation (shape change) activated by photochemical or/and photothermal effect with the aid of photosensitive units in the materials.[6] In the past decades, light with different polarization, patterns, and wavelengths from ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR) has been employed to trigger the shape change of the LCPs owing to the innovation of materials.[7] An increasing number of remarkable results have been reported in light-fueled soft actuators of the LCPs and complex devices also have been ingeniously designed on the basis of distinct LC alignment that determines the actuation modes. In this review, we mainly introduce the photoinduced deformation of the LCPs based on photochemical and photothermal effect by taking the wavelength of the light stimuli as the clue. The basic actuation as well as primary mechanisms is presented, followed by a description of complex actuation determined by the designed LC alignment. We summarize the light-fueled soft actuators according to the concept of locomotion, oscillation, self-sustainable motion, self-regulation, and liquid manipulation. Within this framework, we provide an outlook for the development of photodeformable LCPs in the near future.