Abstract
Natural systems display sophisticated control of light-matter interactions at multiple length scales for light harvesting, manipulation, and management, through elaborate photonic architectures and responsive material formats. Here, we combine programmable photonic function with elastomeric material composites to generate optomechanical actuators that display controllable and tunable actuation as well as complex deformation in response to simple light illumination. The ability to topographically control photonic bandgaps allows programmable actuation of the elastomeric substrate in response to illumination. Complex three-dimensional configurations, programmable motion patterns, and phototropic movement where the material moves in response to the motion of a light source are presented. A “photonic sunflower” demonstrator device consisting of a light-tracking solar cell is also illustrated to demonstrate the utility of the material composite. The strategy presented here provides new opportunities for the future development of intelligent optomechanical systems that move with light on demand.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1651 |
| Journal | Nature communications |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2021 |
Funding
The authors acknowledge support from the Office of Naval Research Grant (N00014-19-1-2399) for this work. The SEM measurements were performed in Harvard University Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS), which is a member of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Network (NNCI), which is supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF award No. 1541959.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Physics and Astronomy
