Azo Polymer Janus Particles Possessing Photodeformable and Magnetic-Field-Responsive Dual Functions

It is of great fundamental and practical significance to endow Janus particles with various field-responsive properties. In this study, a new strategy with a wide range of application possibilities is developed to fabricate JPs composed of a methacrylate-based azo polymer, polystyrene, and Fe3 O4 nanoparticles. The JPs are obtained through microphase separation in a confined volume of the dispersed droplets. The azo polymer and PS are incorporated in JPs in a core-compartmentalized manner, and Fe3 O4 are proved to exist in the azo polymer phase. The JPs show responsive movement in the magnetic field and can be easily oriented with the help of the field. By variation of the intersection angle between the particle symmetrical axis and the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser beam, different deformation modes are feasibly achieved for the JPs. By exploiting the dual-responsive properties, JPs with designed shapes can be fabricated by exposing the JPs to linearly polarized light.