A photoactivated artificial muscle model unit: reversible, photoinduced sliding of nanosheets

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Nov 2;133(43):17130-3. doi: 10.1021/ja207278t. Epub 2011 Oct 10.

Abstract

A novel photoactivated artificial muscle model unit is reported. Here we show that organic/inorganic hybrid nanosheets reversibly slide horizontally on a giant scale and the interlayer spaces in the layered hybrid structure shrink and expand vertically by photoirradiation. The sliding movement of the system on a giant scale is the first example of an artificial muscle model unit having much similarity with that in natural muscle fibrils. In particular, our layered hybrid molecular system exhibits a macroscopic morphological change on a giant scale (~1500 nm) relative to the molecular size of ~1 nm by means of a reversible sliding mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Organs*
  • Muscles* / radiation effects
  • Myofibrils / radiation effects
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Photochemical Processes / radiation effects*
  • Surface Properties