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Rapid and reversible shape changes of molecular crystals on photoirradiation

Author

Listed:
  • Seiya Kobatake

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, Sugimoto 3-3-138, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan)

  • Shizuka Takami

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan)

  • Hiroaki Muto

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan)

  • Tomoyuki Ishikawa

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, Sugimoto 3-3-138, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan)

  • Masahiro Irie

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan)

Abstract

Shaped by the light Some materials will change size or shape upon light irradiation. Such triggering of mechanical deformations without direct contact offers the intriguing prospect of actuators that can be operated remotely. But the light-deformable polymers and gels developed so far all respond relatively slowly and become unstable after deformation. A new material developed by Kobatake et al. avoids these shortcomings: the molecular crystals, based on diarylethene chromophores and with sizes ranging from 10 to 100 µm, can be switched rapidly and reversibly between two different stable states by irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light, respectively. And when put in the spotlight, a rod-shaped crystal of the material attached to a surface can even 'bat' away a tiny gold particle. Video streams of the crystals in action are online at http://www.nature.com/nature .

Suggested Citation

  • Seiya Kobatake & Shizuka Takami & Hiroaki Muto & Tomoyuki Ishikawa & Masahiro Irie, 2007. "Rapid and reversible shape changes of molecular crystals on photoirradiation," Nature, Nature, vol. 446(7137), pages 778-781, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:446:y:2007:i:7137:d:10.1038_nature05669
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05669
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mehdi Rohullah & Vuppu Vinay Pradeep & Shruti Singh & Rajadurai Chandrasekar, 2024. "Mechanically controlled multifaceted dynamic transformations in twisted organic crystal waveguides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Durga Prasad Karothu & Rodrigo Ferreira & Ghada Dushaq & Ejaz Ahmed & Luca Catalano & Jad Mahmoud Halabi & Zainab Alhaddad & Ibrahim Tahir & Liang Li & Sharmarke Mohamed & Mahmoud Rasras & Panče Naumo, 2022. "Exceptionally high work density of a ferroelectric dynamic organic crystal around room temperature," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Yuki Hagiwara & Shodai Hasebe & Hiroki Fujisawa & Junko Morikawa & Toru Asahi & Hideko Koshima, 2023. "Photothermally induced natural vibration for versatile and high-speed actuation of crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Jiawei Lin & Jianmin Zhou & Liang Li & Ibrahim Tahir & Songgu Wu & Panče Naumov & Junbo Gong, 2024. "Highly efficient in crystallo energy transduction of light to work," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Xing Wang Liu & Weijun Zhao & Yue Wu & Zhengong Meng & Zikai He & Xin Qi & Yiran Ren & Zhen-Qiang Yu & Ben Zhong Tang, 2022. "Photo-thermo-induced room-temperature phosphorescence through solid-state molecular motion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Die Zhang & Boyang Fu & Weilong He & Hengtao Li & Fuyang Liu & Luhong Wang & Haozhe Liu & Liujiang Zhou & Weizhao Cai, 2024. "Pressure-induced shape and color changes and mechanical-stimulation-driven reverse transition in a one-dimensional hybrid halide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Hiroya Nishikawa & Koki Sano & Fumito Araoka, 2022. "Anisotropic fluid with phototunable dielectric permittivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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