Issue 35, 2014

Recent twists in photoactuation and photoalignment control

Abstract

The design of functional and stimuli-responsive materials is among the key goals of modern materials science. The structure and properties of such materials can be controlled via various stimuli, among which light is often times the most attractive choice. Light is ubiquitous and a gentle energy source and its properties can be optimized for a specific target remotely, with high spatial and temporal resolution. Light-control over molecular alignment has in recent years attracted particular interest, for potential applications such as reconfigurable photonic elements and optical-to-mechanical energy conversion. Herein, we bring forward some recent examples and emerging trends in this exciting field of research, focusing on liquid crystals, liquid-crystalline polymers and photochromic organic crystals, which we believe serve to highlight the immense potential of light-responsive materials to a wide variety of current and future high-tech applications in photonics, energy harvesting and conversion.

Graphical abstract: Recent twists in photoactuation and photoalignment control

Article information

Article type
Highlight
Submitted
11 jun. 2014
Accepted
30 jun. 2014
First published
30 jun. 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7155-7162

Author version available

Recent twists in photoactuation and photoalignment control

A. Priimagi, C. J. Barrett and A. Shishido, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 7155 DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01236D

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