Photomechanical effect

Photomechanical effect is the change in the shape of a material when it is exposed to light. This effect was first documented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880.[1] More recently, Kenji Uchino demonstrated that a photostrictive material could be used for legs in the construction of a miniature optically-powered "walker".[2]

The most common mechanism of photomechanical effect is light-induced heating.

Photomechanical materials may be considered smart materials due to their natural change implemented by external factors.

  1. ^ Bell, A. G. (1881). "On the Production and Reproduction of Sound by Light". Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 29: 115.
  2. ^ Uchino, Kenji; Cross, Leslie E. (1980). "Electrostriction and Its Interrelation with Other Anharmonic Properties of Materials". Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. 19 (4). Japan Society of Applied Physics: L171–L173. Bibcode:1980JaJAP..19L.171U. doi:10.1143/jjap.19.l171. ISSN 0021-4922. S2CID 94553913.