The　development　of　versatile　actuators　that　convert　environmental　energy　(heat　or　light,　especially　sunlight)　into　mechanical　energy　remains　a　great　challenge.　Herein,　freestanding　carbon　nitride　films　were　prepared　by　the　physical　vapor　deposition　method　using　bulk　g-C　3　N　4　powder　as　a　starting　material.　The　carbon　nitride　films　exhibited　controllable　deformation　under　the　stimuli　of　heat　and　light.　An　alarm　device　for　high　temperature　and　an　artificial　hand　for　grasping　and　releasing　objects　were　designed.　By　utilizing　the　photothermal　effect,　a　smart　curtain　that　could　block　the　UV　rays　and　a　manipulator　that　could　perform　sophisticated　mechanical　work　were　demonstrated　under　the　direct　irradiation　of　natural　and　simulated　sunlight.　This　work　exploited　the　potential　applications　of　carbon　nitride　polymers　for　the　conversion　of　solar　energy　to　mechanical　energy.　©　Copyright　2019　American　Chemical　Society.