Light-Driven Rapid Peeling of Photochromic Diarylethene Single Crystals

Macroscopic transformation such as the molecular motors of biology is brought by transforming the protein using the chemical reaction of molecules by external stimuli. If it is possible to achieve it as machine-like in nanometer to micrometer size in photomechanical phenomena, there is a possibility of the application as driving devices of micro- or nanomachineries that drive without any electrical contact. Since light is useful to operate it without any direct contact as external stimuli and leads to rapid photochemical reactions, the operation at high speed can be expected. Here we newly found that crystals of a photochromic diarylethene exhibit a peeling behavior with astonishingly rapid velocity by photoirradiation to a lateral face in addition to separation behaviors such as jumping and cracking by photoirradiation to a well-developed face. The detail of the rapid photoresponsive peeling was discussed based on the molecular packings and the dependence on crystal size and photoirradiation conditions. These crystals can be potentially applied to macroscopic photomechanical actuators rapidly driven based on molecular machinery.