Unusual reversible photomechanical actuation in polymer/nanotube composites.
An azobenzene-containing liquid crystalline polymer/carbon nanotube composite strip was synthesized that shows rapid and reversible deformation under UV irradiation. The aligned nanotubes also provide the composite with much higher mechanical strength than pure liquid crystalline polymers and a very high electrical conductivity.
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Xuemei
X
Sun
Wei
W
Wang
Longbin
L
Qiu
Wenhan
W
Guo
Yanlei
Y
Yu
Huisheng
H
Peng