Bending Crystals with Light

Dancing with the Light: A New Way to Make Crystals Bend by Shining Light #wasedauniversity #research #crysalsbend Scientists propose a novel mechanism for inducing high-speed bending in thick crystals by heating them up with light Generating mechanical motion in crystals using light or heat has increasingly become the focus of materials scientists. However, the conventional mechanism employed for the purpose produces slow responses and is ineffective for thick crystals. Now, in a new study, scientists from Japan report and validate a new mechanism for generating fast bending motion in thick crystals with light-induced heating, opening doors to light-driven mechanics with more versatile crystals. Authors: Shodai Hasebe, Yuki Hagiwara, Jun Komiya, Meguya Ryu, Hiroki Fujisawa, Junko Morikawa, Tetsuro Katayama, Daiki Yamanaka, Akihiro Furube, Hiroyasu Sato, Toru Asahi, and Hideko Koshima Title of original paper: Photothermally Driven High-Speed Crystal Actuation and Its Simulation Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c03588 Press Release: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/74686 About Waseda University: Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University ranks number one in Japan in international activities, including the number of international students, with the broadest range of degree programs fully taught in English. To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en