Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide

Abstract Advanced smart polymer materials with the ability of reversible deformation under external stimuli hold great potential in robotics, soft machines, and flexible electronics. However, the complexity and low efficiency for fabricating actuators along with their limited functionality hinder fu...

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Main Authors: Shuyu Xue, Zhipanxin Shi, Zaiyu Wang, Haozhe Tan, Feng Gao, Zicong Zhang, Ziyue Ye, Shifeng Nian, Ting Han, Jianbo Zhang, Zheng Zhao, Ben Zhong Tang, Qiuyu Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54386-9
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author Shuyu Xue
Zhipanxin Shi
Zaiyu Wang
Haozhe Tan
Feng Gao
Zicong Zhang
Ziyue Ye
Shifeng Nian
Ting Han
Jianbo Zhang
Zheng Zhao
Ben Zhong Tang
Qiuyu Zhang
author_facet Shuyu Xue
Zhipanxin Shi
Zaiyu Wang
Haozhe Tan
Feng Gao
Zicong Zhang
Ziyue Ye
Shifeng Nian
Ting Han
Jianbo Zhang
Zheng Zhao
Ben Zhong Tang
Qiuyu Zhang
author_sort Shuyu Xue
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Advanced smart polymer materials with the ability of reversible deformation under external stimuli hold great potential in robotics, soft machines, and flexible electronics. However, the complexity and low efficiency for fabricating actuators along with their limited functionality hinder further progress. Here an efficient and mild catalyst-free thiol-yne click polymerization was developed to fabricate photosensitive polyimide (PI) films. Then the fluorescent robust photoactuators with single-layered janus structure were directly obtained via UV assisted photo-crosslinking of the films, exhibiting reversible response driven by a pronounced mismatch in expansion between the front and back sides of the films. Achieving selective, non-uniform spatial distribution within the PI films, rapid and reversible complex morphing of the actuators, along with the capabilities for encrypting, reading, and erasing fluorescent information—all through the use of a single UV light source—becomes straightforward. The robust mechanical property and driving ability of these actuators enable the conversion of light energy into obvious motion even under heavy loads and the leaping through the storage and release of energy, ensuring their potential for practical applications that require durability and reliability.
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issn 2041-1723
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-af974ad2c7d649918f2c6219bbe7e6512025-08-20T02:22:30ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111410.1038/s41467-024-54386-9Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimideShuyu Xue0Zhipanxin Shi1Zaiyu Wang2Haozhe Tan3Feng Gao4Zicong Zhang5Ziyue Ye6Shifeng Nian7Ting Han8Jianbo Zhang9Zheng Zhao10Ben Zhong Tang11Qiuyu Zhang12School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical UniversitySchool of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical UniversityCenter for AIE Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical UniversitySchool of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical UniversityAbstract Advanced smart polymer materials with the ability of reversible deformation under external stimuli hold great potential in robotics, soft machines, and flexible electronics. However, the complexity and low efficiency for fabricating actuators along with their limited functionality hinder further progress. Here an efficient and mild catalyst-free thiol-yne click polymerization was developed to fabricate photosensitive polyimide (PI) films. Then the fluorescent robust photoactuators with single-layered janus structure were directly obtained via UV assisted photo-crosslinking of the films, exhibiting reversible response driven by a pronounced mismatch in expansion between the front and back sides of the films. Achieving selective, non-uniform spatial distribution within the PI films, rapid and reversible complex morphing of the actuators, along with the capabilities for encrypting, reading, and erasing fluorescent information—all through the use of a single UV light source—becomes straightforward. The robust mechanical property and driving ability of these actuators enable the conversion of light energy into obvious motion even under heavy loads and the leaping through the storage and release of energy, ensuring their potential for practical applications that require durability and reliability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54386-9
spellingShingle Shuyu Xue
Zhipanxin Shi
Zaiyu Wang
Haozhe Tan
Feng Gao
Zicong Zhang
Ziyue Ye
Shifeng Nian
Ting Han
Jianbo Zhang
Zheng Zhao
Ben Zhong Tang
Qiuyu Zhang
Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
Nature Communications
title Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
title_full Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
title_fullStr Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
title_full_unstemmed Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
title_short Fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo-crosslinking induced single-layered janus polyimide
title_sort fluorescent robust photoactuator via photo crosslinking induced single layered janus polyimide
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54386-9
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