Issue 47, 2005
From the journal:

Journal of Materials Chemistry

Large amplitude light-induced motion in high elastic modulus polymer actuators†

Kenneth D. Harris,*a   Ruud Cuypers,b   Patrick Scheibe,a   Casper L. van Oosten,a   Cees W. M. Bastiaansen,a   Johan Lubb  and  Dirk J. Broerab  

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Postbus 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
E-mail: k.harris@tue.nl
Fax: + 31 040 243 6999

b Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract

Well-defined gradients in molecular alignment have been used as tools to generate large amplitude, light-induced deformations in stiff polymer networks. These systems are reversible, monolithic and based on a simple one-step self-assembly process. To fabricate the actuators, diacrylate dopants containing azobenzene moieties were blended with liquid crystalline diacrylate hosts and photopolymerized in a twisted configuration. The resulting twisted networks were heavily crosslinked with room temperature elastic moduli on the order of 1 GPa. Regardless of the temperature with respect to the glass transitions, subsequent exposure to UV radiation induced anisotropic expansion/contraction, and simple variations in geometry were used to generate uniaxial bending or helical coiling deformation modes. Because mechanical energy is directly related to elastic modulus, these systems are expected to provide significantly greater work output than contemporary polymer actuator materials.

Graphical abstract: Large amplitude light-induced motion in high elastic modulus polymer actuators

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B512655J
Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Sep 2005
Accepted
06 Oct 2005
First published
20 Oct 2005

J. Mater. Chem., 2005,15, 5043-5048

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Large amplitude light-induced motion in high elastic modulus polymer actuators

K. D. Harris, R. Cuypers, P. Scheibe, C. L. van Oosten, C. W. M. Bastiaansen, J. Lub and D. J. Broer, J. Mater. Chem., 2005, 15, 5043 DOI: 10.1039/B512655J

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