Tunable Photothermal Actuation Using Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct Photoswitch Conjugated Polymers
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The demonstration of programmable actuation performance by the simple remodeling of material properties advances the field of light responsive materials one step closer to the development of “life-like” actuators. We introduce a novel approach for programmable actuation using negatively photochromic molecular photoswitches, termed donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), capable of generating programmed mechanical energy using photochemically programmed logic. We present a visible light-responsive bilayer actuator that can lift weight against gravity, as well as a simple light-powered crawler, that exploits photothermal energy conversion. Slowly converting a highly-absorbing DASA photochrome into a non-absorbing form upon light illumination enables us to demonstrate programmed actuation motions that can be attenuated or terminated when the DASAs decolorize. This study suggests the potential of shape morphing actuation by leveraging DASAs’ photo-patternable abilities.