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Light‐Driven Flipping of Azobenzene Assemblies—Sparse Crystal Structures and Responsive Behaviour to Polarised Light
Author(s) -
Kageyama Yoshiyuki,
Ikegami Tomonori,
Satonaga Shinnosuke,
Obara Kazuma,
Sato Hiroyasu,
Takeda Sadamu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202000701
Subject(s) - azobenzene , molecule , chemical physics , materials science , translational motion , anisotropy , nanotechnology , biological system , optics , physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , biology
For creation of autonomous microrobots, which are able to move under conditions of a constant environment and a constant energy supply, a mechanism for maintenance of mechanical motion with a capacity for self‐control is required. This requirement, known as self‐organisation, represents the ability of a system to evade equilibrium through formation of a spatio‐temporal pattern. Following our previous finding of a self‐oscillatory flipping motion of an azobenzene‐containing co‐crystal, we present here regulation of the flipping motion by a light‐receiving sensor molecule in relation to the alignment and role of azobenzene molecules in crystals. In the anisotropic structure, a specific azobenzene molecule acts as a reaction centre for the conversion of light to a mechanical function process, whereas the other molecules act as modulators for spatio‐pattern regulation. The present results demonstrate that autonomously drivable molecular materials can exhibit information‐responsive, self‐sustainable motion by incorporating stimulus‐responsive sensors.