Programmable Photothermal Actuation using Novel Negative Photochromic Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct (DASA) Polymers

ORAL

Abstract

Light-driven actuation has significant advantages including untethered operation, precise spatiotemporal activation, and the ability to operate in complex surroundings without significant modification. Here, we use a new class of molecular photoswitches, called donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), to generate a novel but conceptually simple photo-responsive polymer bilayer actuator, capable of repeatedly lifting a load against the force of gravity. We will present a synthesis pathway for chemically attaching DASA conjugates to poly(hexyl methacrylate) through norbornadiene click chemistry, and will demonstrate actuator performance. Importantly, we can leverage the different time scales of photothermal and photochemical responses of DASAs to achieve dynamic material control, including the ability to switch on and off actuation. Our results highlight the promising benefits of high molar absorptivity, negative photochromism, and visible light absorption of DASAs for actuation.

*Primary: USARO under W911NF-19-2-0026. Partial: NSF MRSEC through DMR-1720256, and ONR MURI through N00014-18-1-2624. Views and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.

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Presenters

  • Jaejun Lee

    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Chemistry, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

Authors

  • Jaejun Lee

    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Chemistry, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Miranda Sroda

    • Department of Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Younghoon Kwon

    • University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara

  • Sara El-Arid

    • Department of Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara

  • Serena Seshadri

    • Department of Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Luke Gockowski

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Elliot W. Hawkes

    • Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Mechanical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Javier Read de Alaniz

    • Department of Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Megan Valentine

    • University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara