Thioether‐Functionalized Quinone‐Based Resorcin[4]arene Cavitands: Electroswitchable Molecular Actuators

Muscle-like Artificial Molecular Actuators for Nanoparticles

Chem ◽

10.1016/j.chempr.2018.08.030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (11) ◽

pp. 2670-2684 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Qi Zhang ◽

Si-Jia Rao ◽

Tao Xie ◽

Xin Li ◽

Tian-Yi Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Actuators

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Robust thermoelastic microactuator based on an organic molecular crystal

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-019-12601-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Yulong Duan ◽

Sergey Semin ◽

Paul Tinnemans ◽

Herma Cuppen ◽

Jialiang Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Phase ◽

Artificial Muscles ◽

Molecular Configuration ◽

Dynamic Simulations ◽

Thermally Induced ◽

Molecular Actuators ◽

Strong Shear ◽

Phenyl Rings ◽

External Stimuli ◽

Nucleation And Growth Mechanism

Abstract Mechanically responsive molecular crystals that reversibly change shape triggered by external stimuli are invaluable for the design of actuators for soft robotics, artificial muscles and microfluidic devices. However, their strong deformations usually lead to their destruction. We report a fluorenone derivative (4-DBpFO) showing a strong shear deformation upon heating due to a structural phase transition which is reproducible after more than hundred heating/cooling cycles. Molecular dynamic simulations show that the transition occurs through a nucleation-and-growth mechanism, triggered by thermally induced rotations of the phenyl rings, leading to a rearrangement of the molecular configuration. The applicability as actuator is demonstrated by displacing a micron-sized glass bead over a large distance, delivering a kinetic energy of more than 65 pJ, corresponding to a work density of 270 J kg−1. This material can serve as a prototype structure to direct the development of new types of robust molecular actuators.

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Effects of d.c. potential patterns on the performance of ion-exchange polymer based molecular actuators

Polymers for Advanced Technologies ◽

10.1002/pat.699 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 53-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eiichi Shoji ◽

Daisuke Hirayama ◽

Masahiro Kusakabe ◽

Tamotsu Inoue

Keyword(s):

Ion Exchange ◽

Molecular Actuators

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Positive/Negative Phototropism: Controllable Molecular Actuators with Different Bending Behavior

10.26434/chemrxiv.12413459.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Haoran Wang ◽

Jiapeng Liu ◽

Qiyao Li ◽

Jianyu Zhang ◽

Hao Xing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Calculation ◽

Driving Force ◽

Molecular Packing ◽

Chemical Structures ◽

Molecular Actuators ◽

Bending Behavior ◽

Negative Phototropism

<div>Herein, a series of molecular actuators based on the crystals of (E)‐2‐(4‐fluorostyryl)benzo[d]oxazole (BOAF4),</div><div>(E)‐2‐(2,4‐difluorostyryl)benzo[d]oxazole (BOAF24), (E)‐2‐(4‐fluorostyryl)benzo[d]thiazole (BTAF4) and (E)‐2‐</div><div>(2,4‐difluorostyryl)benzo[d]thiazole (BTAF24) showed unprecedented different bending behavior under UV</div><div>irradiation. BOAF4 and BTAF4 bent towards light, whereas BOAF24 and BTAF24 bent away from light.</div><div>Although the chemical structures of these compounds are similar, we found out the F‒H‒C interaction was</div><div>the main driving force for the different molecular packing in the crystals, which led to the positive/negative</div><div>phototropism of the actuators. Moreover, the theoretical calculation was carried out to reveal the mechanical</div><div>properties of the crystals. Taking advantage of the photo responsive property, we achieved the potential</div><div>application in pushing objects, as well as enriching and removing pollutants. This system not only achieved a</div><div>class of molecular actuators with different bending behavior through introducing different number of F atom,</div><div>but also realized pushing and catching behavior within one molecule, which opens a novel gate for crystal</div><div>engineering</div>

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Photosalient Effect: Dramatic conversion of light into mechanical motion

Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations and Advances ◽

10.1107/s2053273314087750 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (a1) ◽

pp. C1224-C1224

Author(s):

Subash Sahoo ◽

Pance Naumov

Keyword(s):

Single Crystals ◽

Flexible Electronics ◽

Mechanical Response ◽

Mechanical Energy ◽

Small Scale ◽

Molecular Rotor ◽

Mechanical Motion ◽

Molecular Actuators ◽

Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽

External Stimuli

Materials showing mechanical response in presence of external stimuli are of relevance for the design of nanoscale actuating devices for a variety of small-scale applications including actuators, flexible electronics, artificial muscles, and others. In recent years, molecular actuators[1] (molecular rotor, elevator, etc.) and several macroscopic systems based on liquid-crystal elastomers, gels, and other polymers[2] have been developed. The most recent efforts are aimed at achieving rapid, reversible, maximum and fatigueless response with single crystals which display optimum coupling between light and the mechanical energy. When exposed to light, certain single crystals can jump up to thousands times their own size. The term "photosalient" was introduced recently to describe this phenomenon.[3] The photosalient effect in the motile crystals represents a direct and visually impressive demonstration of the conversion of light into mechanical motion through a photochemical reaction on a macroscopic scale, which sets the platform for the design of fast biomimetic and technomimetic actuating materials that can mimic animal motions, dynamics of macromolecules, or dynamic technical elements, in the future. In this presentation, we will describe the mechanical response from photosalient single crystals that undergo photoinduced linkage isomerization. To understand the mechanistic details, the mechanism of the process was studied by X-ray photodiffraction, kinematic analysis, IR spectroscopy and mechanical characterization. In contrast to many other solid-state transformations that involve nucleation and propagation of the reaction interface, in this system the reaction proceeds homogeneously whereupon solid solutions form without apparent phase separation.

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