Mechanical Actuation and Patterning of Rewritable Crystalline Monomer−Polymer Heterostructures via Topochemical Polymerization in a Dual-Responsive Photochromic Organic Material

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b23189
• Publication Date: 2020-03-12T09:20:43Z
• Authors: Ranita Samanta; Daichi Kitagawa; Amit Mondal; Manjima Bhattacharya; Mari Annadhasan; Saikat Mondal; Rajadurai Chandra...; Seiya Kobatake; C. Malla Reddy
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

The dark-orange monomer single crystals of 1,1'-dioxo-1H-2,2'-biindene-3,3'-diyldidodecanoate (BIT-dodeca2) convert to a transparent single-crystalline polymer (PBIT-dodeca2) material via single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) polymerization reaction under sunlight, which then undergoes reverse thermal transformation into BIT-dodeca2 crystals, leading reversible photo-/thermochromism, coupled with mechanical actuation. We exploit the properties this unique demonstrate formation monomer-polymer heterostructures in selected regions micrometer-scale precision using laser. This is first example heterostructure patterning involving domains crystals. reveal that speed photomechanical bending induced by comparable those well-known diarylethene derivatives, electrocyclic ring-closing-ring-opening reactions operate. Furthermore, we characterize distinct and quantitative nanoindentation technique as well photopatterning on monomer-coated paper for potential use security devices. These several advantages, such (weight lifting) even when crystal size large, responsiveness both UV visible light, solubilities (the insoluble, whereas soluble most organic solvents) colors, provide opportunities their at different length scales sample (μm mm) various purposes.