Light-Driven Reversible Shaping of Individual Azopolymeric Micro-Pillars.

ABSTRACT: Azopolymers are known to exhibit a strong light responsivity known as athermal photofluidization. Although the underlying physics is still under debate, athermal photofluidization has been demonstrated to trigger mass-migration according to the polarization of a proper illumination light. Here, a polymer blend is proposed wherein a commercial azo-polyelectrolyte is mixed with a passive polymer. The blend is patterned as an array of micro-pillars that are individually exposed to visible laser illumination. Thanks to the interplay between the two blend components, a reversible and controlled deformation of the micro-pillars by periodically tuning the laser polarization in time is demonstrated. A reduced mobility of the azo-compound allows to repeatibly elongate and rotate micro-pillars along

SUBMITTER: Pirani F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4987756 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature