The electro-induced shape-changing polymer materials (EISCP) are a kind of materials that have shapechanging response to electric stimulation. In other words

under the intermittent or continuous stimulation of an electric field or current

the shape of EISCP would make a specific shape-changing response. And when the electric field or current disappears

the shape tends towards recovery. EISCP have great potential applications in the field of artificial muscles

biomimetic robots

intelligent devices

drug carriers

etc. In this paper

according to the difference of the shape-changing response

the shape-changing mechanisms of electro-induced shape-changing polymer are divided into two types: electric field response type and current response type. And

the research progress and applications in electro-induced shapechanging polymer materials based on dielectric elastomers

ferroelectric polymers

electro-induced liquid crystal elastomers

electro-strictive graft elastomers

carbon nanotube composites

ionic polymer-metal composites

electroinduced shape-changing hydrogels

electro-shape memory polymers and conductive polymers were described in detail. Finally

the problems of electro-induced shape-changing polymer materials researches

such as low response speed

less deformation and shape-changing response highly dependent on "on/off" stimulation

are analyzed

and the future development of electro-induced shape-changing polymer materials are prospected.