Spatially patterned stiffness variation in a light-triggered jumper for symmetry breaking and high snap-through efficiency.

The nonlinear strain response of soft material-based snap-through systems enables amplified and accelerated force output. However, efficiency of snap-through energy release is challenging to improve because of the inherent trade-off between initial curvature and stiffness. Here, spatial programming of stiffness variation in the azobenzene-functionalized liquid-crystalline polymer (Azo-LCP) addresses this limitation and achieves efficient photomechanical jumping.