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Shape memory polymers and their composites could be able to hold a temporary shape and return to its original shape when exposed to a specific external stimulus. The stimulus light could be defined as optical radiation with a wavelength ranging from 200 to 2500 nm. Light enables novel and advanced shape memory effects capable of meeting the most demanding requirements in micro and small-scale engineering, biomedical, space and large-scale engineering applications. The ability to change the wavelength, intensity, irradiated position, periodicity and polarization of the stimulus light allows for the progression of wavelength selective, sequential, reversible and multiple shape memory effects. Shape memory polymers and shape memory alloys could be mutually actuated or triggered to change its shape by heat, electric field and magnetic fields, but only shape memory polymers can be actuated or triggered by light and power of hydrogen (pH). Especially light activation gives unique advantages like long-range actuations, less or no interaction with subsystems, and importantly they are wavelength specific; hence there is less chance for unintended actuation. In this review, we have comprehensively covered the light actuation methods, functional moieties, activation mechanism, chemistry, characterization methods, applications, and modeling methods of Light Actuated Shape Memory Polymer in depth. As per our research there few to no reviews available on Light-activated Shape memory Polymers especially focusing on chemically modified system making this review important within the field.
Kumar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.