Bending motion of a polyacrylamide/graphite fiber driven by a wide range of light from UV to NIR

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 74; pp. 68 - 70
• Main Authors: Nakata, Kazuya, Sakai, Munetoshi, Ochiai, Tsuyoshi, Murakami, Taketoshi, Fujishima, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-05-2012
• Subjects: Bending motion; Energy conversion; Fiber; graphene; lighting; Photomechanical effect; polyacrylamide; temperature; wavelengths; Bending motion; Photomechanical effect; Energy conversion; Fiber
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2012.01.099

Photomechanical motion of a polyacrylamide-based fiber containing graphite as a dye was observed upon illumination with a wide range of light from UV to NIR wavelength. The fiber bends upon illumination, and then recovers its original shape when illumination ceases. The fiber is heated upon illumination because of a photothermal effect originating from graphite, and then cools to room temperature once the light source is removed. The mechanical force of the bending motion upon illumination was approximately 2.2mN in the direction perpendicular to the fiber. When the light source was turned off, the bending force disappeared. Generation and disappearance of this mechanical force can be cycled by turning the light source on and off, respectively.
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► Photomechanical motion of a PAA/graphite fiber was observed upon illumination. ► The PAA/graphite fiber is heated upon illumination because of a photothermal effect. ► The mechanical force of the photomechanical motion was approximately 2.2mN.