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US 8,557,140 B2Granted
Photoresponsive nanoparticles as light-driven nanoscale actuators
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJawad Naciri, Jing C. Zhou, Banahalli R. Ratna
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Abstract
Photoresponsive shape memory nanoparticles have a layered smectic ordering and include a photoresponsive moiety selected from the group consisting of azobenzene, stilbene, and spiropyran. Multiple cycles of contraction and extension in these materials can be controlled by UV and visible light. By changing light intensity and exposure time, the magnitude of actuation can be modulated.
Claims8
A method of actuating, the method comprising:
- irradiating an photoresponsive particle actuator with ultraviolet light thereby causing the photoresponsive particle actuator to contract in at least one dimension, and
- irradiating the photoresponsive particle actuator with visible light thereby causing the photoresponsive particle actuator to expand in the same at least one dimension,
- wherein the photoresponsive particle actuator has a layered smectic ordering, comprising a photoresponsive moiety selected from the group consisting of azobenzene, stilbene, and spiropyran,
- wherein said photoresponsive particle actuator is in a condition of having been formed from a surfactant and at least two polymer precursors,
- wherein each polymer precursor comprises azobenzene as said photoresponsive moiety, flanked by alkyl chains having from 4 to 10 carbons, and
- wherein the surfactant and at least one of the at least two polymer precursors comprise a crosslinking moiety selected from the group consisting of acrylate, vinyl ether, and epoxide.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.