Patterned and Collective Motion of Densely Packed Tapered Multiresponsive Liquid Crystal Cilia (Adv. Mater. Technol. 8/2022)

Abstract

plane continuously in a preprogrammed pattern with a frequency and amplitude of choice, without any obvious signs of fatigue. Thanks to the versatility of this cilia platform, a wide range of applications such as transporting loads in confined spaces, self-cleaning surfaces, haptics, or energy generation is foreseen. Plus, Au target, 30 s, 40 mA). Characterizations : Optical as well as polarized optical microscopy was performed on a Leica DM6000M, in some cases equipped with a 600/10 nm bandpass filter (Melles Griot 03 FIV 018) to prevent isomerization of the azobenzene derivative by the microscope light. Thermal actuation was performed by heating the sample on a hotplate (Linkam TMS94). Photoactuation was performed by illuminating the sample with 365 nm (M365LP1, Thorlabs) and 455 nm (M455L4, Thorlabs) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at a 50 ° angle from below (with respect to the sample stage). Scanning electron microscopy was performed on a SEM Quanta 3D FEG (FEI), prior to characterization, cilia were coated with a thin layer of gold. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed on a TA Q2000, cycling from 0 to 100 ° C at 5 ° C min − 1 three times, and the second cooling cycle was used for characterization. DMA was performed a TA Q800, heating from 0 to 100 ° C at 3 ° C min − 1 . UV–visible spectroscopy was performed on a Perkin Elmer Lambda 750 UV–vis–NIR spectrophotometer. Image and Statistical Analyses : The image and statistical analyses, using ImageJ, at the basis of some of the results presented in this paper are further outlined in the Supporting Information.