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Keywords:

  • actuators;
  • chromophores;
  • elastomers;
  • liquid crystals;
  • photomechanical effect
Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

A plastic motor which is driven only by light is demonstrated by T. Ikeda et al. in their Communication on page 4986 ff. The rotational motion of azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline elastomers and their composite materials have potential application, as they convert light energy directly into mechanical work without the aid of batteries, electric wires, or gears.