A chaotic self-oscillating sunlight-driven polymer actuator

Kamlesh Kumar, Christopher Knie, David Bléger (), Mark A. Peletier, Heiner Friedrich, Stefan Hecht (), Dirk J. Broer, Michael G. Debije () and Albertus P. H. J. Schenning ()
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Kamlesh Kumar: Eindhoven University of Technology
Christopher Knie: Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
David Bléger: Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
Mark A. Peletier: Eindhoven University of Technology
Heiner Friedrich: Eindhoven University of Technology
Stefan Hecht: Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
Dirk J. Broer: Eindhoven University of Technology
Michael G. Debije: Eindhoven University of Technology
Albertus P. H. J. Schenning: Eindhoven University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Nature provides much inspiration for the design of materials capable of motion upon exposure to external stimuli, and many examples of such active systems have been created in the laboratory. However, to achieve continuous motion driven by an unchanging, constant stimulus has proven extremely challenging. Here we describe a liquid crystalline polymer film doped with a visible light responsive fluorinated azobenzene capable of continuous chaotic oscillatory motion when exposed to ambient sunlight in air. The presence of simultaneous illumination by blue and green light is necessary for the oscillating behaviour to occur, suggesting that the dynamics of continuous forward and backward switching are causing the observed effect. Our work constitutes an important step towards the realization of autonomous, persistently self-propelling machines and self-cleaning surfaces powered by sunlight.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11975

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