Extraction of mechanical work from stimuli-responsive molecular systems and materials

Perrot, Alexis; Moulin, Émilie; Giuseppone, Nicolas

doi:10.1016/j.trechm.2021.08.007

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Synthetic chemists working in the field of artificial molecular machines − often take inspiration from machines that we know and use at macroscale (elevators, , cars, , pumps − and transporters, , robots and synthesizers, , muscles, − walkers, , etc.). Even if the functioning principles are different on a nanoscale because of the Brownian environment, − it appears very fruitful to make use of such analogies on the macroscopic scale to potentially find new ideas and useful applications. − Toward this direction, there is also an imperative need to interface these nanomachines with their environment and integrate them on all scales in order to make use of their motions − as well as to convert, store, and release energy. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-Driven Molecular Whirligig

et al. 2022

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A unidirectional light-driven rotary motor was looped in a figure-of-eight molecule by linking two polymer chains between its stator and rotor parts. By properly tuning the size of these linkers, clockwise rotation of the motor under UV light was shown to create conformationally strained twists between the polymer chains, and in this tensed conformation, the energy stored in the molecular object was sufficient to trigger the reverse rotation of the motor back to its fully relaxed state. The functioning principle of this motorized molecular device appears very similar to that of macroscopic whirligig crafts used by children for fun. In addition, we found that in its out-of-equilibrium tensed state, the fluorescence emission of the molecular motor increased by 500% due to the mechanical constraints imposed by the polymer chains on its conjugated core. Finally, by calculating the apparent thermal energies of activation for the backward rotations at different levels of twisting, we quantitatively determined a lower estimate of the work generated by this rotary motor, from which a torque and a force were extracted, thus answering a long-term open question in this field of research.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-Driven Molecular Whirligig

et al. 2022

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“…[1][2][3][4][5] Over the past decades, a variety of smart materials, namely polymers, liquid crystals, hydrogels, and carbon materials, have been reported with superior mechanical properties and processability. [6][7][8][9][10] Nevertheless, most of them present no or low structural order, which would inevitably reduce the response speed and energy conversion efficiency. 4 Moreover, due to the disordered structure of amorphous materials, it is difficult to analyze and reveal the stimuli-responsive mechanisms and the structure-property relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimuli-responsive flexible organic crystals

Chen

Wang

et al. 2023

J. Mater. Chem. C

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“…Perhaps the most intriguing motion is that which can be exploited to generate mechanical work because such photomechanical behavior would be potentially useful for practical applications such as weight lifters, − photoactuators, , photoswitches, − and artificial muscles. − Rather than establishing an asymmetric external excitation condition or creating a built-in asymmetric photoresponsive structure to produce continuous mechanical strokes in a ratchet, − directional expansion may be the most straightforward way to produce mechanical work. Expansion of photoresponsive polymers is usually isotropic and needs to incorporate additional molecules like swelling. − Moreover, most of the energy is dissipated in the polymer chains due to thermal effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering Photomechanical Molecular Crystals to Achieve Extraordinary Expansion Based on Solid-State [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition

Tong

et al. 2022

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

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Photomechanical molecular crystals are promising candidates for photoactuators and can potentially be implemented as smart materials in various fields. Here, we synthesized a new molecular crystal, (E)-3-(naphthalen-1yl)acrylaldehyde malononitrile ((E)-NAAM), that can undergo a solid-state [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction under visible light (≥400 nm) illumination. (E)-NAAM microcrystals containing symmetric twinned sealed cavities were prepared using a surfactant-mediated crystal seeded growth method. When exposed to light, the hollow microcrystals exhibited robust photomechanical motions, including bending and dramatic directional expansion of up to 43.1% elongation of the original crystal length before fragmentation due to the photosalient effect. The sealed cavities inside the microcrystals could store different aqueous dye solutions for approximately one month and release the solutions instantly upon light irradiation. A unique slow−fast−slow crystal elongation kinematic process was observed, suggesting significant molecular rearrangements during the illumination period, leading to an average anisotropic crystal elongation of 37.0% (±3.8%). The significant molecular structure and geometry changes accompanying the photocycloaddition reaction, which propels photochemistry to nearly 100% completion, also facilitate photomechanical crystal expansion. Our results provide a possible way to rationally design molecular structures and engineer crystal morphologies to promote more interesting photomechanical behaviors.

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Extraction of mechanical work from stimuli-responsive molecular systems and materials

Cited by 25 publications

References 92 publications

Light-Driven Molecular Whirligig

Light-Driven Molecular Whirligig

Stimuli-responsive flexible organic crystals

Engineering Photomechanical Molecular Crystals to Achieve Extraordinary Expansion Based on Solid-State [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition

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