Synergistic water-driven shape memory performance and improving mechanism of grading photo-thermal curing shape memory composite

•Synergistic water-driven shape memory composite is prepared via grading photo-thermal curing method.•Shape memory performance is improved after immersed in 0.1 mol/L HCl solution.•The synergistic plastifications between C-F and oxygen-containing functional groups of the composites.•Practical approach to realize the intellectualization of underwater deployment and release structure.