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Revolving supramolecular chiral structures powered by light in nanomotor-doped liquid crystals

Nature Nanotechnology volume 13, pages 304–308 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Molecular machines operated by light have been recently shown to be able to produce oriented motion at the molecular scale1,2 as well as do macroscopic work when embedded in supramolecular structures3,4,5. However, any supramolecular movement irremediably ceases as soon as the concentration of the interconverting molecular motors or switches reaches a photo-stationary state6,7. To circumvent this limitation, researchers have typically relied on establishing oscillating illumination conditions—either by modulating the source intensity8,9 or by using bespoke illumination arrangements10,11,12,13. In contrast, here we report a supramolecular system in which the emergence of oscillating patterns is encoded at the molecular level. Our system comprises chiral liquid crystal structures that revolve continuously when illuminated, under the action of embedded light-driven molecular motors. The rotation at the supramolecular level is sustained by the diffusion of the motors away from a localized illumination area. Above a critical irradiation power, we observe a spontaneous symmetry breaking that dictates the directionality of the supramolecular rotation. The interplay between the twist of the supramolecular structure and the diffusion14 of the chiral molecular motors creates continuous, regular and unidirectional rotation of the liquid crystal structure under non-equilibrium conditions.

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Fig. 1: Motor-doped liquid crystals winding under irradiation, and associated chiral structures.
Fig. 2: Light-driven chiral structures revolving unidirectionally
Fig. 3: Universal character of the revolving chiral structures.
Fig. 4: Helix inversion promotes spatial confinement, and thus preserves the integrity of the revolving patterns.
Fig. 5: Orbital transport of cargo.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported financially by the H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 programme (Grant 661315 to T.O.), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (FOM Grant 13PR3105 to F.L. and N.K.), and the European Research Council (Starting Grant 307784 to N.K.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, LOMA, UMR 5798, Talence, France

    Tetiana Orlova, Charles Loussert & Etienne Brasselet

  2. Bio-inspired and Smart Materials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Federico Lancia, Supitchaya Iamsaard & Nathalie Katsonis

Authors
  1. Tetiana Orlova
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  2. Federico Lancia
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  3. Charles Loussert
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  4. Supitchaya Iamsaard
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  5. Nathalie Katsonis
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  6. Etienne Brasselet
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Contributions

E.B. and N.K. initiated and guided the research. The laser experiments were designed by E.B. and performed by T.O. and C.L. The light-responsive liquid crystals were designed by N.K. and prepared by F.L. and S.I. S.I. synthesized the molecular motors. E.B. conceived the model. E.B. and T.O. performed the simulations. E.B., N.K., T.O. and F.L. analysed the data and discussed the results at all stages. E.B. and N.K. wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Nathalie Katsonis or Etienne Brasselet.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Captions for Supplementary Videos, Supplementary Figures 1–9; Supplementary Table 1; Supplementary Schemes 1–3.

Videos

Supplementary Video 1

Counter-clockwise rotation of a twisted topological structure with a diameter d ~ 45 µm.

Supplementary Video 2

Clockwise rotation of twisted topological structure with a diameter d ~ 45 µm.

Supplementary Video 3

Clockwise rotation of twisted topological structure with a diameter d ~ 50 µm.

Supplementary Video 4

Emergence of a twisted topological structure, when a cholesteric liquid crystal undergoes helix inversion under illumination.

Supplementary Video 5

Emergence of a twisted topological structure, when a cholesteric liquid crystal does not undergo helix inversion under illumination.

Supplementary Video 6

Orbital transport of a satellite cargo, along a clockwise trajectory.

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Orlova, T., Lancia, F., Loussert, C. et al. Revolving supramolecular chiral structures powered by light in nanomotor-doped liquid crystals. Nature Nanotech 13, 304–308 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-017-0059-x

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