Abstract
Light is distinguished as a contactless energy source for microscale devices as it can be directed from remote distances, rapidly turned on or off, spatially modulated across length scales, polarized, or varied in intensity. Motivated in part by these nascent properties of light, transducing photonic stimuli into macroscopic deformation of materials systems has been examined in the last half-century. Here we report photoinduced motion (photomotility) in monolithic polymer films prepared from azobenzene-functionalized liquid crystalline polymer networks (azo-LCNs). Leveraging the twisted-nematic orientation, irradiation with broad spectrum ultraviolet–visible light (320–500 nm) transforms the films from flat sheets to spiral ribbons, which subsequently translate large distances with continuous irradiation on an arbitrary surface. The motion results from a complex interplay of photochemistry and mechanics. We demonstrate directional control, as well as climbing.
Highlights
Light is distinguished as a contactless energy source for microscale devices as it can be directed from remote distances, rapidly turned on or off, spatially modulated across length scales, polarized, or varied in intensity
Photomechanical effects in crystalline materials have been subject to recent research, including demonstrations of bending, jumping and twisting[5,6]
Photomechanical effects in polymers and crystalline materials have been subject to a number of recent reviews[7,8,9,10,11]
Summary
Light is distinguished as a contactless energy source for microscale devices as it can be directed from remote distances, rapidly turned on or off, spatially modulated across length scales, polarized, or varied in intensity. We report photoinduced motion (photomotility) in monolithic polymer films prepared from azobenzene-functionalized liquid crystalline polymer networks (azo-LCNs). One of the primary benefits of liquid crystalline polymer networks and elastomers in mechanical applications is the ability to generate monolithic yet designed materials with local variation in the spatial (in the plane) and hierarchical (through thickness) orientation of the materials[12]. In this way, programming the anisotropy of azo-LCNs could emulate the anisotropic mechanics evident in many of the natural examples of locomotion described hereto. By directly transducing photons into motion, the weight penalty of articulated mechanisms, actuators or on-board power sources is eliminated
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