Photomechanical Materials, Composites, and Systems: Wireless Transduction of Light into Work

Photomechanical effects in materials convert light into mechanical work.  The wirelessly triggered mechanical response transforms is shown to transform the shape, stiffness, or surface topography of the material.

This book details the intercoupling between the mechanical response, chemistry, physics, and optics of the material system.  The interdisciplinary coverage uses a team of leading and diverse authors to elucidate the subject matter. Chapters address specific types of materials - polymers, single crystals, and nanocomposites - along with applications in as shape-memory devices, adaptive surfaces, and actuation; before concluding with an outlook on future directions and challenges.

An exhaustive review of the history, current state, and future opportunities for harnessing light to accomplish useful work in materials, Photomechanical Materials, Composites, and Systems:  Wireless Transduction of Light into Work offers a valuable one-stop reference and resource that:

•          Reviews the history and future development of a rapidly growing and dynamic area of photomechanical effects in materials

•          Describes photomechanical materials and mechanisms, along with key applications

•          Deals with an interdisciplinary topic of advanced materials research with extensive description of current and future applications in optics, medicine, and robotics