The devices, known as magnetic ceramic microscrolls, are only a few micrometers wide and can reach lengths of up to 25 millimeters when fully extended. Traditional ceramic materials are attractive because they can withstand heat, chemicals, and mechanical wear, but they are normally brittle. The functional film is first prepared as an ultrathin layer on a supporting substrate. Electron microscope images show multiple structural levels, from the ceramic film itself to nanoscale and microscale features distributed throughout it. KeywordsMicrorobotics, soft robotics, ceramic microscrolls, magnetic actuation, vanadium pentoxide, iron oxide nanoparticles, bio-inspired materials, programmable materials, microactuators, University of Stuttgart