Hybrid nanoscale organic molecular crystals assembly as a photon-controlled actuator

Abstract

Molecule deformation to macroactuation: In a novel hybrid assembly photoisomerization causes microscale deformation of molecules that is amplified to macroscale bending of a composite membrane. The nanoscale molecular crystals, which are unevenly distributed in a functional polymer matrix, provide a new strategy for designing higher performance actuators that combine the advantages of both molecular crystals and liquid crystal elastomers. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.