From Light to Motion: Shaping surfaces with light
猡
Researchers from the Multifunctional Materials Design group at Aalto University explored the use of photoactive materials to control surface topographies, specifically in generating photo-responsive wrinkle patterns. Azobenzene and its derivatives are employed to trigger photoisomerization reactions upon illumination, resulting in the conversion of electromagnetic energy into mechanical energy. In fact, supramolecular design is utilized to build polymer-azo complexes, allowing for easy tuning of the rate of pattern evolution at constant illumination intensity.
The study characterizes dynamic photoinduced wrinkle erasure enabled by photomechanical changes in supramolecular polymer-azo complexes via confocal microscopy. Furthermore, a MATLAB algorithm was developed to thoroughly analyze the video that captures the wrinkle erasure process. As a result, a combination of confocal microscopy and the mentioned MATLAB analysis enables a quantitative comparison of wrinkling erasure efficiency of different supramolecular materials and provides a facile way to optimize the system for specific applications.
This work provides insight into the conversion of molecular-level motion into larger scales and broadens other opportunities for tissue engineering and biological applications.
The findings were published in (Yujiao Dong, Dr. Pedro E. S. Silva, Prof.鈥匘r. Jaakko V. I. Timonen, Prof.鈥匘r. Jaana Vapaavuori).
The news article was prepared by Bach Nguyen (MMD / Aalto University).
Related content:
Read more news
Samu Taulu develops next-generation brain imaging methods
Associate Professor of neurostimulation and neuroimaging Samu Taulu develops more precise methods for understanding the brain
EAA Best Paper and Presentation Award for Young Researchers for postdoctoral researcher Thomas Deppisch
The awarded work shows how speech can be made clearer in noisy environments while still preserving directional cues
Professor Hanna Maylett: 鈥淲ithout time spent together, a shared vision cannot emerge鈥
According to Hanna Maylett, associate professor of film directing, a director doesn鈥檛 need to know all the answers; rather, their role is to create a process through which those answers can be discovered together.