Title
Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Photon-Powered Actuators Based on Aligned Diarylethene Nanocrystals
Publication Date
2019
Abstract
When photochromic molecules are organized in a crystal, the small-scale forces generated by molecular photoisomerization events can combine together to generate work on micro- or macroscopic length scales. In this work, photomechanical nanocrystals themselves are organized on macroscopic length scales using a porous inorganic template. The organic diarylethene component provides the reversible photoresponse, whereas the porous alumina component provides structural support and directionality. This hybrid organic–inorganic photomechanical material acts as a bending actuator. Using ultraviolet and visible photons as power inputs, as little as 0.1 mg of reacted material generates enough force to tilt a 1.28 g mirror and steer a laser beam. The motion can be cycled multiple times in air and under water. Actuator figures-of-merit such as energy-to-work conversion efficiency and stiffness are probably limited by the high elastic modulus of the inorganic template, providing an obvious pathway for optimization.
Journal or Book Title
Chemistry of Materials
Pages
1016-1022
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b04568
Volume
31
Issue
3
Comments
full-text forthcoming