Premium
All‐Optical Reversible Actuation of Photochromic‐Polymer Microsystems
Author(s) -
Athanassiou A.,
Kalyva M.,
Lakiotaki K.,
Georgiou S.,
Fotakis C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200401078
Subject(s) - photochromism , spiropyran , merocyanine , materials science , polymer , irradiation , optoelectronics , bacteriorhodopsin , molecule , bending , photochemistry , laser , nanotechnology , optics , membrane , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , biochemistry
Optomechanical actuation of polymer films doped with spiropyran photochromic molecules is demonstrated by the reversible bending of the films upon laser irradiation (see Figure). The photoactuators are fully wavelength controllable and capable of operating reversibly in a few seconds. The reversible macroscopic mechanical effect is found to be associated with the interactions between different stereoisomers and formation of merocyanine aggregates.