Photoinduced variable stiffness of spiropyran-based composites

Journal Article · Mon Nov 14 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3662401· OSTI ID:22027811

Samoylova, E; Ceseracciu, L; Allione, M; Diaspro, A; Barone, A C ^[1]; Athanassiou, A ^[1]

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1. Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Genova I-16163 (Italy)

A quantitative demonstration of reversible stiffness upon appropriate light stimulus in a spiropyran-polymeric composite is presented. The polymeric films containing 3% wt. of the photochromic spiropyran were irradiated with alternating ultraviolet and visible light and the storage modulus was measured. A reversible change in modulus of about 7% was observed. The modulus change was attributed to an interaction of the polar merocyanine with the polymeric chains and/or to a variation of effective free volume induced by merocyanine aggregates formed in the polymer upon ultraviolet irradiation. The effect is fully reversed when the merocyanine isomers turn back to the spiropyran state after visible irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 22027811
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 99; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
FILMS
FLEXIBILITY
IRRADIATION
ISOMERS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PHOTOCHROMIC MATERIALS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
VISIBLE RADIATION
VISIBLE SPECTRA