78 research outputs found
Modulation of porosity in a solid material enabled by bulk photoisomerization of an overcrowded alkene
FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide
Organic nanofibers embedding stimuli-responsive threaded molecular components
While most of the studies on molecular machines have been performed in
solution, interfacing these supramolecular systems with solid-state
nanostructures and materials is very important in view of their utilization in
sensing components working by chemical and photonic actuation. Host polymeric
materials, and particularly polymer nanofibers, enable the manipulation of the
functional molecules constituting molecular machines, and provide a way to
induce and control the supramolecular organization. Here, we present
electrospun nanocomposites embedding a self-assembling rotaxane-type system
that is responsive to both optical (UV-visible light) and chemical (acid/base)
stimuli. The system includes a molecular axle comprised of a dibenzylammonium
recognition site and two azobenzene end groups, and a dibenzo[24]crown-8
molecular ring. The dethreading and rethreading of the molecular components in
nanofibers induced by exposure to base and acid vapors, as well as the
photoisomerization of the azobenzene end groups, occur in a similar manner to
what observed in solution. Importantly, however, the nanoscale mechanical
function following external chemical stimuli induces a measurable variation of
the macroscopic mechanical properties of nanofibers aligned in arrays, whose
Young's modulus is significantly enhanced upon dethreading of the axles from
the rings. These composite nanosystems show therefore great potential for
application in chemical sensors, photonic actuators and environmentally
responsive materials.Comment: 39 pages, 16 figure
Particulate matters collected from ceramic factories in Lampang Province affecting rat lungs
Fluorinated azobenzenes for shape-persistent liquid crystal polymer networks
Liquid crystal polymer networks respond with anisotropic deformation to a range of external stimuli. When doped with molecular photo-switches, these networks undergo complex shape modification under illumination. As the deformations reverse when irradiation stops, applications where thermal stability of the activated shape is required were precluded. Previous attempts to incorporate molecular switches with thermally stable photo-isomers were unsuccessful at photo-generating macroscopic shapes that are retained in time. Here, we show that the key to preserving photo-activated molecular deformation on the macroscopic scale is not only to engineer the thermal stability of the photo-switch but also to adjust the cross-linking density in the polymer network and to optimize the molecular orientations in the material. Our strategy resulted in materials containing fluorinated azobenzenes that retain photochemical shape morphing for more than eight days, which constitutes the first demonstration of long-lived photomechanical deformation in liquid crystal polymer networks
High-Power Actuation from Molecular Photoswitches in Enantiomerically Paired Soft Springs
Motion in plants often relies on dynamic helical systems as seen in coiling tendrils, spasmoneme springs, and the opening of chiral seedpods. Developing nanotechnology that would allow molecular-level phenomena to drive such movements in artificial systems remains a scientific challenge. Herein, we describe a soft device that uses nanoscale information to mimic seedpod opening. The system exploits a fundamental mechanism of stimuli-responsive deformation in plants, namely that inflexible elements with specific orientations are integrated into a stimuli-responsive matrix. The device is operated by isomerization of a light-responsive molecular switch that drives the twisting of strips of liquid-crystal elastomers. The strips twist in opposite directions and work against each other until the pod pops open from stress. This mechanism allows the photoisomerization of molecular switches to stimulate rapid shape changes at the macroscale and thus to maximize actuation power
Conversion of light into macroscopic helical motion
A key goal of nanotechnology is the development of artificial machines capable of converting molecular movement into macroscopic work. Although conversion of light into shape changes has been reported and compared to artificial muscles, real applications require work against an external load. Here, we describe the design, synthesis and operation of spring-like materials capable of converting light energy into mechanical work at the macroscopic scale. These versatile materials consist of molecular switches embedded in liquid-crystalline polymer springs. In these springs, molecular movement is converted and amplified into controlled and reversible twisting motions. The springs display complex motion, which includes winding, unwinding and helix inversion, as dictated by their initial shape. Importantly, they can produce work by moving a macroscopic object and mimicking mechanical movements, such as those used by plant tendrils to help the plant access sunlight. These functional materials have potential applications in micromechanical systems, soft robotics and artificial muscle
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