Swimming robots driven by the Marangoni effect have attracted considerable research interest recently. Current Marangoni actuators are mostly chemical-driven or light-driven. However, simultaneously achieving high actuation speed and programmable motions remains a persistent challenge. Herein, inspired by multi-mode propulsion strategies employed in high-performance racing cars, we propose electrical/chemical dual-driven Marangoni actuators fabricated from carbon nanotube-cellulose fiber (CNT-CF) and polyethylene (PE) composites. Firstly, under electrical stimulation, the actuator exhibits programmable self-propelled swimming locomotion (linear and turning motions) on water surfaces. The actuation mechanism is due to the temperature gradient generated by Joule-heating. Secondly, upon dissolution of an embedded bone glue film, the actuator operates in a purely chemical-driven Marangoni mode, generating rapid autonomous swimming locomotion. Critically, when both electrical and chemical stimuli are applied, the actuator enters a dual-driven mode through a synergistic effect, attaining a velocity of 32.2 mm s^-1, exceeding the arithmetic sum of individual electrical-driven (5.4 mm s^-1) and chemical-driven (11.3 mm s^-1) velocities by over 93%. Furthermore, the same CNT-CF/PE material system can fabricate actuators showcasing on-land crawling motions. Finally, two actuators are assembled to a functional robotic gripper, demonstrating the versatility of platform. This work establishes a unified design paradigm for state-of-the-art actuators and multifunctional amphibious devices.

Integrating energy-storage devices (supercapacitors) and shape-deformation devices (actuators) advances the miniaturization and multifunctional development of soft robots. However, soft robots necessitate supercapacitors with high energy-storage performance and actuators with excellent actuation capability. Here, inspired by ant nests, we present a porous structure fabricated by MXene-graphene-methylcellulose (M-GMC) composite, which overcomes the self-stacking of MXene nanosheets and offers a larger specific surface area. The porous structure provides more channels and active sites for electrolyte ions, resulting in high energy storage performance. The areal capacitance of the M-GMC electrode reaches up to 787.9 mF·cm⁻², significantly superior to that of the pristine MXene electrode (449.1 mF·cm⁻²). Moreover, the M-GMC/polyethylene bilayer composites with energy storage and multi-responsive actuation functions are developed. The M-GMC is used as the electrode and the polyethylene is used as the encapsulation layer of the quasi-solid-state supercapacitor. Meanwhile, the actuators fabricated by the bilayer composites can be driven by light or low voltage (≤ 9 V). The maximum bending curvature is up to 5.11 cm⁻¹. Finally, a smart gripper and a fully encapsulated smart integrated circuit based on the M-GMC/polyethylene are designed. The smart gripper enables programmable control with multi-stage deformations. The applications realize the intelligence and miniaturization of soft robots. The ant-nest-inspired M-GMC composites would provide a promising development strategy for soft robots and smart integrated devices.