title: Photonic Devices Out of Equilibrium: Transient Memory, Signal Propagation, and Sensing.
abstract: Soft photonic materials are important for sensors, displays, or energy management and have become switchable under static equilibrium conditions by integration of responsive polymer features. The next step is to equip such materials with the ability for autonomously dynamic and self-regulating behavior, which would advance their functionality and application possibilities to new levels. Here, this study shows the system integration of a nonlinear, biocatalytic pH-feedback system with a pH-responsive block copolymer photonic gel, and demonstrates autonomous transient memories, remotely controlled signal propagation, and sensing. This study utilizes an enzymatic switch to program the lifetime of the reflective state of a photonic gel, and induces propagation of pH-waves extinguishable by illumination with UV-light. The described combination of nonlinear chemistry and responsive photonic gels opens pathways toward out-of-equilibrium photonic devices with active and autonomous behavior useful for sensing, computation, and communication.
authors.affiliation: DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heuser
authors.affiliation: Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 31, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Materials Research Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merindol
authors.affiliation: Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 31, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Materials Research Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loescher
authors.affiliation: DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klaus
authors.affiliation: Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 31, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Materials Research Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walther
keywords: block copolymers; dynamic materials; feedback systems; photonics; responsive materials