Bioinspired soft robots based on organic polymer-crystal hybrid materials with response to temperature and humidity

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: April 21, 2023

Abstract The capability of stimulated response by mechanical deformation to induce motion or actuation is the foundation lightweight organic, dynamic materials for designing light and soft robots. Various biomimetic robots are constructed demonstrate vast versatility responses flexibility in shape-shifting. We now report that integration organic molecular crystals polymers brings about synergistic improvement performance both as a hybrid class, with adding hygroresponsive thermally responsive functionalities crystals. resulting elements respond within milliseconds, which represents several orders magnitude time relative some other type common actuators. Combining largely overlooked much closer specific applications (micro)robotics related fields.

Language: Английский

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Schiff base flexible organic crystals toward multifunctional applications

Aggregate, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: Jan. 23, 2024

Abstract The emergence of flexible organic crystals changed the perception molecular that were regarded as brittle entities over a long period time, and sparked great interest in exploring mechanically compliant crystalline materials toward next‐generation smart during past decade. Schiff base compounds are considered to be one most promising candidates for owing their easy synthesis, high yield, stimuli responsiveness good mechanical properties. This paper gives an overview recent development (including elastic crystals, plastic integrating elasticity plasticity) from serendipitous discovery design strategies versatile applications such responses, optical waveguides, optoelectronic devices, biomimetic soft robots, photonic integrated circuits. Notably, atomic force microscopy‐micromanipulation technique has been utilized bring multifunctional macroscopic level microscopic world. Since understanding flexibility at through crystal engineering can assist us trace down structural origin properties, we focus on packing structures various driven by non‐covalent intermolecular interactions close correlation with behaviors. We hope information given here will help novel combined other unique promote further research into area applications.

Language: Английский

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Collective photothermal bending of flexible organic crystals modified with MXene-polymer multilayers as optical waveguide arrays

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: June 19, 2023

The performance of any engineering material is naturally limited by its structure, and while each suffers from one or multiple shortcomings when considered for a particular application, these can be potentially circumvented hybridization with other materials. By combining organic crystals MXenes as thermal absorbers charged polymers adhesive counter-ionic components, we propose simple access to flexible hybrid crystal materials that have the ability mechanically respond infrared light. ensuing are durable, fast, cycled between straight deformed state repeatedly without fatigue. point flexure curvature precisely controlled modulating position, duration, power excitation, this control extended individual motion ordered two-dimensional arrays such crystals. We also demonstrate excitation achieved over very long distances (>3 m). shape light adds versatility in anticipated applications crystals, most immediately their application thermally controllable optical waveguides signal transmission electronics.

Language: Английский

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Flexible Organic Crystals for Dynamic Optical Transmission

Chemistry of Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(18), P. 7363 - 7385

Published: Sept. 15, 2023

In recent years, studies of organic optical waveguide materials have emerged as a cutting-edge research area driven by their inherent advantages, such low losses, structural versatility, and attractive properties. Notably, crystals exhibiting high refractive index transparency gained attention prospective for next-generation optoelectronic devices. However, unlike viscoelastic polymers with flexible chains, single composed densely arranged anisotropic small molecules not been considered viable functional due to mechanical rigidity fragility. Recently, the solid-state community has witnessed breakthrough in developing crystalline materials, bringing unique class soft yet ordered engineering plasticity or elasticity poised revolutionize concept electronics. Recent works demonstrated feasibility transmission developed variety elastic different structures functions, opening up opportunities design single-crystalline electronic The first prepared building on luminescent properties crystals. Subsequently, various discovered reported, enabling realization self-doped crystal waveguides, three-dimensional phosphorescent polarization rotators, other elements. Through molecular strategies, construction π-conjugated systems introduction heteroatoms, well employing principles engineering, researchers waveguiding extraordinary properties, including thermoplastic bending stimulus-specific deformation. applications these optically extended low/high-temperature environments. Furthermore, combining inorganic/polymeric self-assembly techniques led development new hybrid solvent-resistant-coated crystals, humidity- temperature-responsive actuators, magnetically controllable materials. These advancements paved way novel devices, sensors, robots,

Language: Английский

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Hybrid and composite materials of organic crystals

Chemical Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. 2684 - 2696

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Combining organic crystals and polymers results in a new class of all-organic, lightweight, flexible materials with unprecedented mechanical robustness, resilience, diversity combination other functional materials.

Language: Английский

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Halogen bonding with carbon: directional assembly of non-derivatised aromatic carbon systems into robust supramolecular ladder architectures

Chemical Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(45), P. 13031 - 13041

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Carbon, although the central element in organic chemistry, has been traditionally neglected as a target for directional supramolecular interactions. The design of structures involving carbon-rich molecules, such arene hydrocarbons, limited almost exclusively to non-directional π-stacking, or derivatisation with heteroatoms introduce molecular assembly recognition sites. As result, predictable non-derivatised, carbon-only π-systems using non-covalent interactions remains an unsolved fundamental challenge solid-state chemistry. Here, we propose and validate different paradigm reliable aromatic systems into architectures: not through but via specific halogen bonding. We present systematic experimental, theoretical database study bonds (C-I⋯πC bonds), focusing on synthesis structural analysis cocrystals diversely-sized -shaped non-derivatised arenes, from one-ring (benzene) 15-ring (dicoronylene) polycyclic atomatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fullerene C60, along calculations Cambridge Structural Database. This establishes C-I⋯πC arrange planar curved motifs. In >90% herein presented structures, PAHs lead general ladder motif, which arenes act rungs bond donors rails, establishing unique example synthon based molecules. Besides importance chemistry this enables access materials exciting properties simple, systems, seen large red blue shifts luminescence room-temperature phosphorescence upon cocrystallisation.

Language: Английский

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Surface coating induced room-temperature phosphorescence in flexible organic single crystals

Chemical Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(24), P. 9258 - 9265

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

A simple and facile surface coating protocol imparts visual room-temperature phosphorescence to flexible organic single crystals, allows their application in colour-tunable optical waveguiding anti-counterfeiting.

Language: Английский

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Pyrene-based cocrystals for regulation of extensive emission across visible to near-infrared II range

Science China Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 67(3), P. 946 - 953

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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Two-Dimensional Optical Waveguides at Telecom Wavelengths Based on Organic Single-Crystal Microsheets of a Charge Transfer Complex

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(12), P. 3047 - 3056

Published: March 22, 2023

Organic charge transfer (CT) cocrystals open a new door for the exploitation of low-dimensional near-infrared (NIR) emitters by convenient self-assembly approach. However, research about fabrication sheet-like NIR-emitting microstructures that are significant structural construction and integrated application is limited unidirectional molecular packing mode. Herein, via regulation biaxial intermolecular CT interaction, single-crystalline microsheets with remarkable NIR emission from 720 to 960 nm were synthesized solution process dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane. The expected structure conducive achieving two-dimensional (2D) optical waveguide an ultralow loss rate 0.250 dB/μm at 860 nm. More significantly, these as-prepared organic tunable thicknesses (h) 100 1100 exhibit thickness-dependent transportation performance. These findings could pave way class 2D photonics telecom wavelengths.

Language: Английский

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Control of Polymorphism and Alignment in Photochromic Salicylideneaniline Crystals Grown by Directional Crystallization

Crystal Growth & Design, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Language: Английский

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