Self-assembled nematic colloidal motors powered by light.

ABSTRACT: Biological motors are marvels of nature that inspire creation of their synthetic counterparts with comparable nanoscale dimensions, high efficiency and diverse functions. Molecular motors have been synthesized, but obtaining nanomotors through self-assembly remains challenging. Here we describe a self-assembled colloidal motor with a repetitive light-driven rotation of transparent micro-particles immersed in a liquid crystal and powered by a continuous exposure to unstructured ~1 nW light. A monolayer of azobenzene molecules defines how the liquid crystal's optical axis mechanically couples to the particle's surface, as well as how they jointly rotate as the light's polarization changes. The rotating particle twists the liquid crystal, which changes polarization of traversing light. The re

SUBMITTER: Yuan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6261955 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature