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US 8,652,352 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.
Claims10
A photoresponsive particle actuator comprising:
- a particle having a layered smectic ordering and including a photoresponsive moiety selected from the group consisting of azobenzene, stilbene, and spiropyran,
- wherein the particle is less than about one micron in diameter and exhibits a reversible shape change upon exposure to light,
- wherein the 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.
2 more elements
A method of making photoresponsive particle actuators, the method comprising:
- (a) combining at least two polymer precursors with an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant to form an emulsion, and
- (b) crosslinking the emulsion to create photoresponsive particle actuators,
- wherein the photoresponsive particle actuators have a layered smectic ordering and include a photoresponsive moiety selected from the group consisting of azobenzene, stilbene, and spiropyran, and
- wherein the photoresponsive particle actuators are less than about one micron in diameter and exhibit a reversible shape change upon exposure to light.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.