Photothermal Conversion Performance Research Articles

Design and application of polyurethane-polydopamine/Ag double-shell microcapsules for enhanced photothermal conversion and incremental energy storage

Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy. However, its intermittent nature hampers its utilization efficiency. Although phase change microcapsules store and release energy using latent heat, they rely on temperature differences, which limits their effectiveness in absorbing and utilizing solar energy as heat. This study employed a two-step method to synthesize a novel double-shell phase change microcapsule to enhance the conversion and step-by-step storage of solar energy. The double shell was constructed using polyurethane (PU) and polydopamine/silver (PDA/Ag), while octadecane and paraffin (P/O) served as the core materials. The synthesized microcapsules displayed a unique double-shell structure, and a consistent spherical shape, and demonstrated a remarkable latent heat storage capacity surpassing 150 J/g. The coating exhibited outstanding photothermal conversion performance, attributed to the synergistic photothermal conversion effect of PDA and Ag in the first shell. The gradual energy transfer within microcapsules was achieved by integrating polyethylene glycol into the PU layer and utilizing two different PCMs as the core materials. Furthermore, the antimicrobial of the treated textiles against S. aureus and E. coli were 99.99% and 99.56%, respectively. The double-layer design of the P/O@PU@PDA/AgNPs provides leakproofness and shape stability, making them ideal for photothermal energy storage applications.

Fluorine-doped ATO NCs with enhanced LSPR effect for smart windows with adaptive solar modulation

Smart windows with excellent near-infrared (NIR) light shielding capacity and controlled visible light transmittance are expected to reduce building energy consumption and improve indoor comfort. However, the ability of current thermochromic materials to regulate solar gain with the tunable extinction of phase-change materials is still far from optimum. In this work, an fluorine (F)-doped ATO (FATO) nanocrystals (NCs) are designed as a photothermal material to optimize the solar modulation of thermochromic hydrogels. F ion doping can modify the electronic structure of ATO, resulting in a high concentration of oxygen vacancies and free electrons, thereby enhancing the NIR absorption performance and photothermal conversion performance of the ATO NCs. On this premise, the designed smart window based on FATO NCs and thermochromic hydrogels exhibits the remarkable features of excellent NIR shielding, high initial visible transmittance and fast response speed. The window is capable of shielding 99.5% of the solar radiation from 300 to 2500 nm and permitting 75.0% of initial visible light. Moreover, the simulated indoor temperature of the smart window was 17.2 °C lower compared with the black one, demonstrating potentials in practical application of building energy saving.

Multiple Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Through Gambogic Acid-Loaded Mesoporous Polydopamine.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer, characterized by aggressiveness and high recurrence rate. As monotherapy provides limited benefit to TNBC patients, combination therapy emerges as a promising treatment approach. Gambogic acid (GA) is an exceedingly promising anticancer agent. Nonetheless, its application potential is hampered by low drug loading efficiency and associated toxic side effects. To overcome these limitations, using mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) endowed with photothermal conversion capabilities is considered as a delivery vehicle for GA. Meanwhile, GA can inhibit the activity of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) to enhance the photothermal effect. Herein, GA-loaded MPDA nanoparticles (GA@MPDA NPs) are developed with a high drug loading rate of 75.96% and remarkable photothermal conversion performance. GA@MPDA NPs combined with photothermal treatment (PTT) significantly inhibit the tumor growth, and effectively trigger the immunogenic cell death (ICD), which thereby increase the number of activated effector T cells (CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells) in the tumor, and hoist the level of immune-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α). The above results suggest that the combination of GA@MPDA NPs with PTT expected to activate the antitumor immune response, thus potentially enhancing the clinical therapeutic effect on TNBC.

Effect of the irradiation intensity on the photo-thermal conversion performance of composite phase change materials: An experimental approach

Composite phase change materials (CPCM) containing photo absorbers are regarded as promising conversion and thermal energy storage materials for solar energy. Understanding the impact of irradiation intensity on the photo-thermal conversion process is of crucial significance for improving the photo-thermal conversion efficiency (PTCE) of CPCM. However, previous studies have overlooked the evolution of temperature patterns and the solid-liquid phase interface in CPCM, posing challenges in revealing photo-thermal conversion characteristics. In response to these challenges, the present study introduces an improved test method that integrates monitoring plane and infrared thermography. Paraffin/graphite nanoparticles CPCM are used as conversion and thermal storage material. The results show that the dominated heat transfer mode in different stages is different, and the natural convection within the liquid CPCM has enhanced the melting process. When the irradiation intensity is increased from 450 W/m2 to 1250 W/m2, the average temperature and average charging rate increase by 33.75% and 197.27%, respectively. At an irradiation intensity of 1050 W/m2, the CPCM achieves the highest overall PTCE of 42.40%, which is an 8.85% increase in contrast to the irradiation intensity of 450 W/m2. The results provide guidance for improving the PTCE of CPCM in the application of direct absorption solar collectors.

Facile Preparation of Photothermal Superhydrophobic Melamine Sponge Decorated with MXene and Lignin Particles for Efficient Oil/Water Separation, Fast Crude Oil Recovery, and Active Deicing.

Frequent oil spills and the discharge of oily wastewaters have caused a serious threat to the environment, ecosystems, and human beings. Herein, a photothermal and superhydrophobic melamine sponge (MS) decorated with MXene and lignin particles has been prepared for the separation of oil/water mixtures, the recovery of crude oils, and active deicing. The obtained superhydrophobic melamine sponge shows a water contact angle (WCA) of 152.3° and an oil contact angle of ∼0° and possesses good chemical stability, thermal stability, and mechanical durability in terms of being immersed in various liquids (i.e., corrosive solutions, organic solvents, and boiling water) and being abrased by sandpapers. This superhydrophobic MS displays a high oil adsorption capacity of CCl4, up to 91.6 times its own weight and a high separation efficiency of 99.4%. Furthermore, the maximum surface temperature of the superhydrophobic MS reaches 57.5 °C under sunlight irradiation (1.0 kW/m2) due to the excellent photothermal heating conversion performance of MXene and lignin particles. When exposed to sunlight, the superhydrophobic MS can quickly absorb viscous crude oils up to 72 times its own weight. Also, the WCA of the superhydrophobic MS remains above 146° after 50 icing/deicing cycles, showing excellent photothermal anti-icing properties. Thus, this study presents an easy and low-cost method for designing photothermal superhydrophobic melamine sponges and opens a new avenue to the applications of efficient oil/water separation, fast crude oil recovery, and active deicing.

Multifunctional polypyrrole/MXene-wrapped sponge with synergistic solar and joule-heating effect for efficient adsorption and all-weather recovery of crude oil

Offshore oil leakage can cause huge economic losses and seriously disrupt the ecological balance. A novel approach to all-weather recovery of crude oil with high viscosity is achieved through day and night workto ensurefaster recovery. Herein, polypyrole (Ppy) covalently integrated with MXene nanosheet was connected to the melamine sponge (MS) by physico-chemical cross-linking method, exhibiting a crude oil absorbent with outstanding photothermal and electrothermal conversion performance (78.9 ℃ under 1.0 kW/m2, 62.3 ℃ in 5 V). The stable superhydrophobic surface (WCA≈153.4°), combined with the dual-energy conversion properties of absorbent provides the synergistic effect for efficient crude oil recovery performance. This is demonstrated by the fact that the maximum surface temperature can be heated to 87.0 ℃ in 3 min, and the absorption weight of crude oil to be improved to 14.26 g in 10 min. Additionally, the Ppy/MXene-wrapped sponge has high thermal stability and flame-retardant properties. Therefore, this functional absorbent has promising way for the disposal of offshore crude oil.

Nano-silver@polydopamine carbonized melamine foam supported polyethylene glycol phase change materials: With simultaneous improved photo-thermal conversion ability

Ag nanoparticles are commonly used for phase change material (PCM) modification to improve the photo-thermal convertibility in composite phase change materials (CPCM) owing to enhance carrier's ability to absorb photons by virtue of its unique localized Surface Plasmon Resonance effect (LSPR). Currently, redox method is considered to be the most effective method for the preparation of Ag nano-coating. However, it is still challenging to obtain a dense and uniform Ag nano-coating on the carrier surface due to the difference in the binding force between Ag nanoparticles and different carriers. Herein, a new preparation strategy is demonstrated, in which the carrier is pre-modified by adding a polydopamine (PDA) coating to enhance the bonding between the carrier and the silver nanoparticles, and then a stable three-dimensional silver nano-conducting network is obtained by redox. Consequential stable architecture contributes to polyethylene glycol (PEG) loadings reach 98%, simultaneously with an ultra-high photo-thermal conversion efficiency of 97.9%. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates the effect of carbonization temperature on the flexibility of melamine carbon foam (CMF), and different nano-Ag concentrations on the thermal conductivity of CPCM. This finding provides valuable guidance for the engineering of high photo-thermal conversion performance CPCM and strengthens their practical implementation in solar energy storage and thermal management.

Design of near-infrared responsive self-healing photocured polyurethane materials with thiourethane bonds

In this work, a photopolymerizable polyurethane oligomer (PETU) with thiourethane bonds was designed and synthesized. Afterwards, the near-infrared responsive self-healing polyurethane films (PETU-HI-X) were fabricated by photopolymerization using homemade PETU, polydopamine (PDA), and commercially available isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA). PETU-HI-X have good photopolymerization and photothermal conversion performance. The as-prepared near-infrared responsive self-healing polyurethane polymer PETU-HI-1.0 exhibited a tensile stress of 1.06 MPa, strain of 1021 %, initial decomposition temperature of 290 °C. In addition, the temperature of the material can rise to more than 100 °C after irradiation with near-infrared light for 3 min, showing excellent photothermal conversion performance, based on which the material shows more than 90 % self-healing efficiency after irradiation with near-infrared light for 30 min. More importantly, the near-infrared responsive self-healing polyurethane polymer PETU-HI-1.0 also has an excellent degradation property. The self-healing polyurethane films have also been used to prepare the flexible electronic device that can be healed and fully restored their conductivity after getting damaged.

Fabrication of a superhydrophobic surface with photothermal electrical conversion performance for anti-icing

The development of anti-icing technology is an effective way to decrease the harm caused by ice accumulation on the surface of materials. In this work, the polypropylene with candle soot and micro-nano structures on its surface (the PP/CS replica) is prepared using a template method. The micro-nano structures are formed on the PP/CS replica surface after hot-pressing. The surface water contact angle of the PP/CS replica is up to 163° and the rolling angle is as low as 2°. The PP/CS replica still has superhydrophobic performance after water flow impact, friction and immersion. The freezing time of the water droplet is delayed and the ice adhesion strength is reduced on the PP/CS replica surface, owing to the micro-nano structures. The PP/CS replica surface has excellent photothermal performance, and the surface temperature can reach 89 °C under simulated sunlight illumination, which accelerates the melting of ice. The photothermal electrical conversion is achieved by the combination of the PP/CS replica and the thermoelectric generator, with an output power up to 604 mW. The solar energy can be effectively utilized.

A Novel Sandwich-Structured Phase Change Composite with Efficient Photothermal Conversion and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Interface.

Stability and multifunctionality greatly extend the applications of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal storage and management. Herein, CuS and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto cotton-derived carbon to develop a multifunctional interface with efficient photothermal conversion and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. 1,3:2,4-di-(3,4-dimethyl) benzylidene sorbitol (DMDBS) and expanded graphite (EG) formed an organic/inorganic three-dimensional network framework to encapsulate 1-octadecanol (OD) by self-assembly. Finally, multifunctional shape-stabilized PCMs (SSPCMs) with the sandwich structure were prepared by the hot-press process. Multifunctional SSPCMs with high load OD (91%) had favorable thermal storage density (200.6 J/g), thermal stability, and a relatively wider available temperature range with improved thermal conductivity to support the thermal storage and management realization. Furthermore, due to the synergistic enhancement of two nanoparticles and the construction of the carbon network with cotton carbon and EG, highly efficient photothermal conversion (94.4%) and EMI shielding (68.9 dB average, X-band) performance were achieved at about 3 mm thickness, which provided the possibility of the multifunctional integration of PCMs. Conclusively, this study provides new insights towards integrating solar energy utilization with the comprehensive protection of related electronics.

Photothermally responsive and durable polydopamine-modified MXene-PNIPAM hydrogels for smart friction regulation

In this study, a polydopamine (PDA)-modified MXene-PNIPAM (pMP) hydrogel is prepared using a soap-free emulsion polymerization method, which shows enhanced anti-oxidative, photo-thermal, and tribological properties. The introduction of PDA not only inhibits the oxidation of MXene but also enhances the photo-thermal conversion efficiency of the hydrogel. Even after 50 days, it can still maintain good photo-thermal conversion performance. Moreover, compared with PNIPAM hydrogel, the friction coefficient (COF) and wear volume of pMP hydrogel as lubricant were reduced by 33% and 85%, respectively. Interestingly, the control of COF with excellent reversibility and durability is achieved using pMP hydrogel modulated by near-infrared light. The pMP composite hydrogel exhibits promising prospects in the fields of intelligent robots and biomedical devices.

Improvement in the photothermal conversion performance of a solar cavity receiver with concave spherical windows

Photothermal conversion parameters are key indicators for measuring the operational performance of solar cavity receivers. By utilizing the redistributive ability of a functional surface in an optical concave lens to transmit solar radiation, previous studies have shown that installing a concave spherical quartz window at the front end of a solar cavity receiver can homogenize the flux distribution on the receiver wall. On this basis, research has been conducted on the impact of solar cavity receivers with concave spherical windows on their photothermal conversion performance. Based on the finite volume method, a coupling model for photothermal conversion in the receiver is established to calculate the heat transfer efficiency and temperature distribution of the receiver for different windows. The results indicate that, compared with a receiver with a flat quartz window, a receiver with a concave spherical quartz window can significantly reduce the peak temperature and peak temperature gradient of the spiral tube in the receiver, effectively improving the temperature distribution of the tube. When DNI = 1000 W/m2, the flow velocity at the inlet is 2.5 m/s, and the temperature at the inlet is 650 K. The receiver with a concave spherical quartz window has a reduced temperature peak from 868.09 K to 834.23 K and a temperature gradient from 2.46 K/mm to 1.27 K/mm relative to the receiver with a flat quartz window. This study provides ideas for the design of cavity receivers and improves their photothermal conversion performance.

Polydopamine nanoplatform with near infrared light and pH dual stimuli-responsive for chemo-photothermal cancer therapy.

Photothermal agent accompanying with thermally responsive materials, displays well controlled drug release property, which is well-received as an outstanding design strategy for simultaneous photothermal/chemotherapy in cancer. Cyanine dye, as the prestigious photothermal agent has shown great potential due to its preeminent near-infrared absorbance and excellent thermal conversion efficiency. However, their inherent defect such as inferior photothermal stability, high leakage risk and poor therapy efficacy limit their further application in cancer therapy. Hence, a facile and universal strategy to make up these deficiencies is developed. Chemotherapeutic drug DOX and cyanine dye were loaded into polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles. The PDA encapsulation dramatically improved the photothermal stability of cyanine dye. Attributed by the PDA structure feature, the thermo-sensitive small molecule glyamine (Gla) is introduced into the PDA surface to lessen leakage. The Gla can form a dense encapsulation layer on the dopamine surface through hydrogen bond. This newly fabricated Cyanine/DOX@PDA-Gla nanopaltform is characterized with NIR light/pH dual-responsive property, high NIR photothermal conversion performance and fluorescence guided chemo-photothermal therapy.

Photothermal controlled-release microcapsule pesticide delivery systems constructed with sodium lignosulfonate and transition metal ions: construction, efficacy and on-demand pesticide delivery.

Widespread application of controlled-release pesticide delivery systems is a feasible and effective method to improve the utilization efficiency of pesticides. However, owing to the high cost and complicated preparation technologies of controlled-release pesticide delivery systems, their applications in agricultural production have been seriously hindered. This study aimed to construct inexpensive photothermally controlled-release pesticide delivery systems using chitosan (CS) and sodium lignosulfonate (LS) as the wall materials, and a coordination assembly strategy of LS with transition metal ions to encapsulate a model pesticide, avermectin (AVM). The resulting complex or nanoparticle photothermal layers in these systems effectively achieved photothermal conversions, and replaced the use of common photothermal agents. In the prepared pesticide-delivery systems, two systems had remarkable photothermal conversion performance and photothermal stabilities with a photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of 24.03% and 28.82%, respectively, under 808 nm, 2 W near-infrared irradiation. The slow-release and ultraviolet-shielding performance of these two systems were markedly enhanced compared with other formulations. The insecticidal activities of these two systems against Plutella xylostella under irradiation with light-emitting diode (LED)-simulated sunlight were also enhanced by 5.20- and 5.06-fold, respectively, compared with that without irradiation of LED-simulated sunlight. Because of their convenient preparations, inexpensive and renewable raw materials, and excellent photothermally controlled-release performance, these on-demand pesticide delivery systems might have significant potential in improving the utilization efficiency of pesticides in modern agriculture. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Shape-stabilized nanosilver-modified grapefruit peel-based porous carbon composite phase change material with high thermal conductivity, photothermal conversion performance and thermal management capability

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is greatly limited in the fields of phase change heat storing and solar energy absorption due to its low thermal conductivity, poor thermal stability and weak photo-thermal effect. Aiming at solving the above concerns, this work structures a new composite phase change material (PCM)(PEG/BPC@Ag) with biomass grapefruit peel-based porous carbon foam (BPC) as the backbone material and Nano-Ag as a surface-modified component, and the phase change medium PEG by simple vacuum immersion method. The test findings revealed that the modified carbon foam with Nano-Ag has excellent three-dimensional structure and photo-thermal effect, which makes the prepared composite PCM(CPCM) have enhanced photo-thermal transformation capacity, an enhanced thermal conductivity and excellent thermal stability. Among them, the thermic conductivity of the PEG/BPC@Ag was increased by 2.1 folds to 0.68 W/Mk. similarly, its enthalpy efficiency λ and was increased from 82.0 % to 83.7 %, and the photo-thermal transformation performance θ was increased from 76.8 % to 91.2 %. As well, the PEG/BPC@Ag has exceptional reusability and thermic robustness performance. Comprehensively, the PEG/BPC@Ag prepared in this work has a wide potential for application both in waste heat recovery and solar energy absorption, as well as in thermal management of electronic components, as well as providing a feasible solution for solid waste recycling in utilization.

Improving the shape stability and photothermal conversion performance of phase change materials through three-dimensional metal-organic network

In order to improve the shape stability of phase change materials (PCMs) while ensuring excellent thermal energy storage / release and photo-thermal conversion performance, three-dimensional metal-organic network (MON) containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and graphene oxide (GO) composite phase change gels (PEG/MON-G) were prepared. The morphology, structure and thermal-physical properties of the gels were investigated by various instruments. The results indicated that PEG was embedded in the three-dimensional MON constructed by coordination and hydrogen bonding of zinc ions, phytic acid and Kevlar nanofibers, ensuring the shape stability of PEG/MON-G up to 120 °C within the experimental range. Due to the dynamic fracture and recombination of coordination and hydrogen bonding interactions, the composite PCMs exhibited excellent deformability. The melting and crystallization enthalpy of PEG/MON-G containing 89.5 wt% of PEG were 143.9 J·g−1 and 141.0 J·g−1, respectively. PEG/MON-G also had good thermal reliability, in which the phase transition temperature of the melting process reduced by only 0.1 °C and the enthalpy changed only 1.4% after 200 cycles. In addition, the photo-thermal conversion efficiency of the composite phase change gels reached 74.6%. In conclusion, this study provides a new strategy for preparing the shape-stabilized PCMs.

Advancing multifunctional thermal management with multistate graphene/CNTs conjugated hybrids

The formation of heat conduction pathway is the key to fulfill the demand for versatile thermal management. However, constructing a three-dimensional (3D) thermal bridge in a single step is challenging and entails the critical co-dispersion of multiple fillers. Here we propose a simple and controllable method to assemble conjugated hybrids of 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with 2D graphene through hydrothermal centrifugation. In addition to armoring CNTs through the conjugation effect, ionic liquid crystals (ILC) assisted the CNTs to exfoliate graphite, facilitating the co-dispersion of the binary material. Remarkably, the resulting graphene/CNTs (GC) hybrids acquire hydrophilicity from the ILC and manifest diverse states depending on the water content, including octopus-like blocks, self-limiting gels, high-concentration slurries, and dilute dispersions. Hybrid nanocomposite papers containing ANF nanofibers with 3D thermally conductive bridges yield exceptional photothermal conversion performance and Joule heating performance, rendering them suitable for flexible wearable applications. The multistate GC hybrids presented here afford a novel reference for the one-step construction of 3D thermally conductive bridges.

Manganese Dioxide Nanoplatform with a Hollow Rhombic Dodecahedron Morphology for Drug Delivery.

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is considered as a promising drug carrier material suitable for the tumor microenvironment while lacking conducive structures for drug loading. Herein, we construct a MnO2 nanoplatform with a hollow rhombic dodecahedral morphology for drug delivery. In this work, we obtained zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles (ZIF-90 NPs) via a coordination reaction. Furthermore, the drug-loading nanoparticles (ZIF-90/DOX NPs) were obtained by Schiff's base reaction and then selected as a sacrificial template to obtain the hollow nanoplatforms (ZIF-90@MnO2 NPs). Moreover, the photothermal effect and multiresponsive drug release behaviors were revealed by loading the photothermal agent IR-820 and the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). Our study demonstrates that the ZIF-90@MnO2 NPs loaded with photosensitizers exhibited excellent photothermal conversion performance. Benefiting from the hollow structure and redox activity, remarkable drug loading and release performances of ZIF-90@MnO2 NPs were achieved. It is shown that ZIF-90@MnO2 NPs achieved a satisfactory drug-loading efficiency (up to ca. 69.7%) for DOX. More promisingly, the ZIF-90@MnO2 NPs exhibited significant glutathione (GSH)/pH-responsive drug release and degradation performances. Overall, this work highlights the potential of controlled drug release of nanocarriers and offers unique insights into the design of nanocarriers with hollow structures.

Preparation and performance enhancement of n-eicosane/polyvinyl alcohol/MXene flexible phase change composites with sandwich structure

In this work, flexible n-eicosane (C20)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/MXene flexible composite PCMs (CPM fc-PCMs) with sandwich structure were designed and prepared. The sandwich structure was prepared by layer-by-layer coating, which was beneficial for enhancing performance of flexible phase change composites. Specifically, the sandwich structure of CPM fc-PCMs could effectively solve the leakage and poor thermal reliability of C20, while significantly improving their thermal storage, mechanical and photothermal conversion performance. The results showed that CPM fc-PCMs had high heat storage capacities, and the maximum latent heat reached ∼157.43 J/g. It was worth noting that the decrease of latent heat of 1CPM70 after 200 phase transition cycles was 2.58 %, showing good thermal reliability due to the micro-morphology and microstructure of CPM fc-PCMs. The addition of MXene with rich surface functional groups could provide hydrogen bonding sites to enhance the bond between layers, so that the CPM fc-PCMs demonstrated excellent flexibility and mechanical performance (∼16.65 MPa). MXene could effectively improve the light-to-heat conversion ability of CPM fc-PCMs, indicating that the CPM fc-PCMs had a good temperature regulation ability in the thermal management of human wearable clothing. In addition, the CPM fc-PCMs demonstrated good thermal stability by TG analysis.

Photothermal Conversion of the Oleophilic PVDF/Ti3C2Tx Porous Foam Enables Non-Aqueous Liquid System Applicable Actuator.

Various physical and chemical reaction processes occur in non-aqueous liquid systems, particularly in oil phase systems. Therefore, achieving efficient, accurate, controllable, and cost-effective movement and transfer of substances in the oil phase is crucial. Liquid-phase photothermal actuators (LPAs) are commonly used for material transport in liquid-phase systems due to their remote operability and precise control. However, existing LPAs typically rely on materials like hydrogels and flexible polymers, commonly unsuitable for non-aqueous liquids. Herein, a 3D porous poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)/Ti3C2Tx actuator is developed using a solvent displacement method. It demonstrates directional movement and controlled material transport in non-aqueous liquid systems. When subject to infrared light irradiation (2.0Wcm-2), the actuator achieves motion velocities of 7.3 and 6mms-1 vertically and horizontally, respectively. The actuator's controllable motion capability is primarily attributed to the foam's oil-wettable properties, 3D porous oil transport network, and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of Ti3C2Tx, facilitating thermal diffusion and the Marangoni effect. Apart from multidimensional directions, the actuator enables material delivery and obstacle avoidance by transporting and releasing target objects to a predetermined position. Hence, the developed controllable actuator offers a viable solution for effective motion control and material handling in non-aqueous liquid environments.