title: Photomobile polymer materials: photoresponsive behavior of cross-linked liquid-crystalline polymers with mesomorphic diarylethenes.
abstract: Cross-linked liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers with a mesomorphic diarylethene were prepared to demonstrate a versatile strategy for cross-linked photochromic LC polymers as photomobile materials. Upon exposure to UV light to cause photocyclization of the diarylethene chromophore, the cross-linked polymer films bend toward an actinic light source. By irradiation with visible light to cause a closed-ring to open-ring isomerization, the bent films revert to the initial flat state. Without visible-light irradiation, the bent films remain bent even at 120 °C, indicating high thermal stability of the cross-linked diarylethene LC polymers.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, R1-12, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503 (Japan), Fax: (+81) 45-924-5275. jmamiya@polymer.res.titech.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mamiya
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tomiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
keywords: actuators; liquid crystals; photochromism; photomechanical effects; polymers