Three-Dimensional Photomobility of Crosslinked Azobenzene Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Fibers

Crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer fibers containing azobenzene moieties show three-dimensional movements under photoirradiation (see figure). The direction of the photomobility of the fibers could be controlled by manipulating the actinic light source. The generated stress upon photoinduced bending reached 210 kPa, which is similar to the stress in human muscles.