DASA-based Photochromic Materials for Load-bearing Applications: Emulating Nature’s Design to Build Light-addressable Actuato

The overarching goal of this work is to develop a new platform for translating light energy into macroscopic changes in material properties that are capable of creating artificial materials with dynamic responsive behavior. The ability for materials to change properties and function in response to external stimuli is intrinsic to biological systems; however, incorporating such advantageous properties into useful materials represents a significant scientific and engineering challenge. Light represents an ideal stimulus for applications in the Army because it is widely available, easy to transport and provides temporal and spatial control. We have made significant progress using a novel class of photochromic material, termed donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), we established a new platform to drive programmed fluid motion, set the foundation to develop light-powered actuators for use in soft robotics, and advanced the development of stimuli-responsive functional coatings.