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Conversion of light into macroscopic helical motion

Nature Chemistry volume 6, pages 229–235 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

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 muscles.

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Figure 1: A photoresponsive liquid crystal in a twist-nematic molecular organization.
Figure 2: The ribbons display a variety of shapes that depend on the direction in which they are cut.
Figure 3: Shape and photoactuation modes of the polymer springs as a function of the angular offset.
Figure 4: Photoactuation modes of the polymer springs doped with S-811.
Figure 5: Mixed-helicity springs doped with S-811 display a complex range of mechanical photoresponses.
Figure 6: Proof-of-principle for a mechanical device powered by light.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported financially by the European Research Council (Starting Grant 307784 to N.K.), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (a Vidi Grant to N.K.) and The Royal Society UK (an International Exchanges Grant to S.P.F. & N.K.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, PO Box 207, The Netherlands

    Supitchaya Iamsaard, Sarah J. Aßhoff, Benjamin Matt, Jeroen J. L. M. Cornelissen & Nathalie Katsonis

  2. Laboratory for Molecular Nanofabrication, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, PO Box 207, The Netherlands

    Tibor Kudernac

  3. Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK

    Stephen P. Fletcher

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  1. Supitchaya Iamsaard
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Contributions

N.K. and S.P.F. conceived the research. N.K., T.K. and J.L.M.C. guided the research. S.I. and B.M. synthesized 1. S.I., S.J.A. and B.M. carried out the experiments. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript at all stages.

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Correspondence to Stephen P. Fletcher or Nathalie Katsonis.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Iamsaard, S., Aßhoff, S., Matt, B. et al. Conversion of light into macroscopic helical motion. Nature Chem 6, 229–235 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1859

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