From nanoscopic to macroscopic photo-driven motion in azobenzene-containing materials

Nanophotonics

article

Stefano L. Oscurato¹  Marcella Salvatore¹  Pasqualino Maddalena¹  Antonio Ambrosio² 

[1] Physics Department “E. Pancini”, University of Naples “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo;Center for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University

关键词: azobenzene;    azomaterials;    azopolymers;    liquid crystalline elastomers;    mass migration;    photo-actuation;    surface patterning;   

DOI  :  10.1515/nanoph-2018-0040

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: De Gruyter

【 摘 要 】

The illumination of azobenzene molecules with UV/visible light efficiently converts the molecules between trans and cis isomerization states. Isomerization is accompanied by a large photo-induced molecular motion, which is able to significantly affect the physical and chemical properties of the materials in which they are incorporated. In some material systems, the nanoscopic structural movement of the isomerizing azobenzene molecules can be even propagated at macroscopic spatial scales. Reversible large-scale superficial photo-patterning and mechanical photo-actuation are efficiently achieved in azobenzene-containing glassy materials and liquid crystalline elastomers, respectively. This review covers several aspects related to the phenomenology and the applications of the light-driven macroscopic effects observed in these two classes of azomaterials, highlighting many of the possibilities they offer in different fields of science, like photonics, biology, surface engineering and robotics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY