Tetracarboxylated Azobenzene/Polymer Supramolecular Assemblies as High-Performance Multiresponsive Actuators

Multistimuli-responsive polymers are materials of emerging interest but synthetically challenging. In this work, supramolecular assembly was employed as a facile and effective approach for constructing 3,3',5,5'-azobenzenetetracarboxylic acid (H(4)abtc)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) supramolecules. Structural transformations of H(4)abtc can be induced by light, mechanical force, and heat and influenced by free volume. Thus, the fabricated free-standing H(4)abtc/PDAC film underwent bending/unbending movements upon treatment with light, humidity, or temperature, as asymmetric structural transformations on either side of the film generated asymmetric contraction/stretching forces. Fast rates of shape recovery were achieved for the film on exposure to gently flowing humid nitrogen. The bending/unbending motions are controllable, reversible, and repeatable. Hence, this light-, humido-, and thermo-responsive film has great potential in device applications for advanced functions.