Kyushu University

Shizuka Takami

Masahiro Irie

Disclosed is light-driven actuator element characterized in that, inter alia, it can be reduced to micrometer size, is rapidly responsive, and reversibly changes to enable repeated use. The light-driven actuator element includes a crystal of diarylethene compound which changes shape upon photoisomerization (e.g., the compound of Structural Formula (I) below, where Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or methyl group and Rrepresents a methyl group). The element can be a rod-shaped or plate-like microcrystal having a size on the order of micrometer. The element bends (or contracts) on irradiation with ultraviolet light and expands to return to the original size on irradiation with visible light. 

Growing community of inventors

Nihama, Japan

Shizuka Takami