Abstract
In this work, we introduce the approaches currently followed to realize photomobile polymer films and remark on the main features of the system based on a biphasic structure recently proposed. We describe a method of making a plasmonic nanostructure on the surface of photomobile films. The characterization of the photomobile film is performed by means of Dark Field Microscopy (DFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Preliminary observations of the light-induced effects on the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance are also reported.
Highlights
The direct conversion of light into mechanical work [1,2] could play an important role in harvesting energy [3,4], allowing further development of the sector by giving different alternatives to the energy storage [5]; at the same time, the light-induced actuation of the material would be able to add additional properties to previously fabricated nanostructures
We have shown that based on light-induced modulation of the surface tension at the polymer interface
We have shown these materials are suitable to develop a novel method to modify the PMP properties in order to get a that these materials are suitable to develop a novel method to modify the PMP properties in order nano-patterned photomobile polymer with plasmonic properties
Summary
The direct conversion of light into mechanical work [1,2] could play an important role in harvesting energy [3,4], allowing further development of the sector by giving different alternatives to the energy storage [5]; at the same time, the light-induced actuation of the material would be able to add additional properties to previously fabricated nanostructures. The first realization of such a compound has to be attributed to Angeloni et al [13], while the realization of very efficient acrylate azobenzene-based photomobile polymer (PMP) films was reported for the first time by Ikeda’s group [2] These materials allow the direct conversion of light energy into mechanical work: the PMP film bends under the illumination of light with the specific characteristics and bending efficiency dependent on the intensity, polarization, and wavelength of the incident light. A further development brought to the realization of azo-LC-PMP is its ability to oscillate under continuous illumination at a frequency of up to about 26 Hz with a lifetime of about 2.5 h, as reported by White et al in 2008 [14] These materials are very interesting because of the large bending angle and pretty high oscillation frequency induced by light under different conditions of wavelengths and polarization states.
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