Generating Photonastic Work from Irradiated Dyes in Electrospun Nanofibrous Polymer Mats

For solar-driven macroscopic motions, we assert that there is a local heating that facilitates large-scale deformations in anisotropic morphologic materials caused by thermal gradients. This report specifically identifies the fate of heat generation in photonastic materials and demonstrates how heat can perform work following excitation of a nonisomerizing dye. Utilizing the electrospinning technique, we have created a series of anisotropic nanofibrous polymer mats that comprise nonisomerizing dyes. Polymers are chosen because of their relative glass transition temperatures, elastic moduli, and melting temperatures. Light irradiation of these polymer mats with an excitation wavelength matching the absorption characteristics of the dye leads to macroscopic deformation of the mat. Analysis of still images extracted from digital videos provides plots of angular displacement vs power. The data were analyzed in terms of a photothermal model. Analyses of scanning electron microscopy micrographs for all samples are consistent to local melting in low T_g polymers and softening in high T_g polymers. Dynamic mechanical analysis allowed for quantification of the modulus change under a given light fluence. We employ these data to calculate a energy conversion efficiency. These efficiencies for the polymer mats are compared to other nonmuscular systems, including a few natural, biological samples.