A chaotic self-oscillating sunlight-driven polymer actuator

Kamlesh Kumar; Christopher Knie; David Bléger; Mark A. Peletier; Heiner Friedrich; Stefan Hecht; Dirk J. Broer; Michael G. Debije; Albertus P. H. J. Schenning

doi:10.1038/ncomms11975

Nature Communications (Jul 2016)

A chaotic self-oscillating sunlight-driven polymer actuator

Kamlesh Kumar,
Christopher Knie,
David Bléger,
Mark A. Peletier,
Heiner Friedrich,
Stefan Hecht,
Dirk J. Broer,
Michael G. Debije,
Albertus P. H. J. Schenning

Affiliations

Kamlesh Kumar: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology
Christopher Knie: Department of Chemistry and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
David Bléger: Department of Chemistry and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
Mark A. Peletier: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology
Heiner Friedrich: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology
Stefan Hecht: Department of Chemistry and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2
Dirk J. Broer: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology
Michael G. Debije: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology
Albertus P. H. J. Schenning: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11975
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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It is highly desirable, yet challenging to build actuators in a dry environment that can undergo autonomous oscillation. Here, Kumar et al.achieve this goal in a soft actuator based on the use of a nematic liquid crystal film doped by ortho-fluoroazobenzene that is responsive to sunlight.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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