Large-Area Three-Dimensional Molecular Ordering of a Polymer Brush by One-Step Processing

Abstract

Bend It, Stretch It Materials (such as those found in some artificial muscle systems) that are used for stimulus-controlled bending or stretching, require long-range ordering so that local chemical triggers will result in long-range bending or flexing motions. Hosono et al. (p. 808 ) observed that a sandwich of a polymethacrylate between uniaxially stretched Teflon sheets develops three-dimensional ordering. Upon hot pressing, the main chains of the polymer brushes aligned homeotropically to the film plane, whereas the side chains, containing azobenzene groups, oriented horizontally along the drawing direction of the Teflon sheets. With some azobenzene groups, alternate irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light made the composites bend and stretch reversibly.