Azophenols fast-responding artificial muscles

Slow thermally isomerizing azo derivatives are exceptional building blocks for information storage devices. By contrast, for other applications, like optical oscillators and fast-responding artificial muscles, which will be described in the next sections of this chapter, it is essential that the return to the thermodynamically stable tmns form in the dark occurs as fast as possible. Specifically, hydroxy-substituted azobenzenes, commonly known as azophenols, are particularly attracting chromophores for this purpose since they are endowed with fast thermal isomerization rates under ambient conditions. 

Fast-Responding Artificial Muscles with Azophenol-Based Liquid Single Crystal Elastomers... 

Fast-Responding Artificial Muscles with Azophenol-BasedLiquid Single Crystal Elastomers 267 32 - ----------------32 ... 

The response time of the artificial muscle-like actuator is mostly determined by the thermal isomerisation rate of the azo dye used. Specifically, the introduction of both alkoxynitro-substituted azobenzenes and azophenols yield fast-responding... 

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