Walking and rolling of crystals induced thermally by phase transition

Takuya Taniguchi, Haruki Sugiyama, Hidehiro Uekusa, Motoo Shiro, Toru Asahi and Hideko Koshima ()
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Takuya Taniguchi: Waseda University
Haruki Sugiyama: Tokyo Institute of Technology
Hidehiro Uekusa: Tokyo Institute of Technology
Motoo Shiro: Waseda University
Toru Asahi: Waseda University
Hideko Koshima: Waseda University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The mechanical motion of materials has been increasingly explored in terms of bending and expansion/contraction. However, the locomotion of materials has been limited. Here, we report walking and rolling locomotion of chiral azobenzene crystals, induced thermally by a reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition. Long plate-like crystals with thickness gradient in the longitudinal direction walk slowly, like an inchworm, by repeated bending and straightening under heating and cooling cycles near the transition temperature. Furthermore, thinner, longer plate-like crystals with width gradient roll much faster by tilted bending and then flipping under only one process of heating or cooling. The length of the crystal is shortened above the transition temperature, which induces bending due to the temperature gradient to the thickness direction. The bending motion is necessarily converted to the walking and rolling locomotion due to the unsymmetrical shape of the crystal. This finding of the crystal locomotion can lead to a field of crystal robotics.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02549-2

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