INMA Junior: Ruggero Rossi

INMA Junior Seminar: “Shine light on surfaces: Advancements in smart materials through photoresponsive polymers”

On Wednesday 10 November at 12:00 the next INMA Junior Seminar will take place in the Sala de Grados of Building A of the Faculty of Sciences in the Campus San Francisco. After the seminar there will be a snack to which all attendees may attend.

The seminar entitled: “Shine light on surfaces: Advancements in smart materials through photoresponsive polymers” will be given by Ruggero Rossi of the CLIP Group, from the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, INMA, a joint institute of the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza.

Resumen: Azobenzenes and azobenzene-like photo-switches are best suited molecules for obtaining of smart photo-responsive materials, revealing their potential to modulate surface properties such as adhesivity and wettability when exposed to light. The study of this kind of photo-switches allows designing a material based on the dynamic properties of the molecules and explores dynamic interplays for applications in different fields. Their potential stems from the reversible trans–cis photoisomerization and relative ease of synthetic modification, allowing for tuning the lifetime of the metastable cis-state from sub-milliseconds up to several years. Employing 3D printed liquid crystalline elastomers enhances this versatility, leading to the development of artificial muscles with superior flexibility and responsiveness. By incorporating azobenzene, these muscles can be actuated using light irradiation. This research underscores the multifaceted capabilities of photoresponsive polymers, offering promising strides in materials science, energy storage, and biomimetic robotics.