Title: Photomobile Polymer Materials: Towards Light-Driven Plastic Motors

Author: Munenori Yamada, Mizuho Kondo, Jun-ichi Mamiya, Yanlei Yu, Motoi Kinoshita, Christopher J. Barrett, Tomiki Ikeda*

Journal: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2008, 47, 4986-4988

Abstract: 

Azobenzene‐containing liquid‐crystalline elastomers (LCEs) and their composite materials have the potential to show three‐dimensional movement by light irradiation. With the LCE laminated films, a first light‐driven plastic motor has been developed, which can convert light energy directly into a continuous rotation without the aid of batteries, electric wires, or gears.

Fulltext Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.200800760