Self-regulating photochemical Rayleigh-Bénard convection using a highly-absorbing organic photoswitch

Abstract

We identify unique features of a highly-absorbing negatively photochromic molecular switch, donor acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA), that enable its use for self-regulating light-activated control of fluid flow. Leveraging features of DASA’s chemical properties and solvent-dependent reaction kinetics, we demonstrate its use for photo-controlled Rayleigh-Bénard convection to generate dynamic, self-regulating flows with unparalleled fluid velocities (~mm s−1) simply by illuminating the fluid with visible light. The exceptional absorbance of DASAs in solution, uniquely controllable reaction kinetics and resulting spatially-confined photothermal flows demonstrate the ways in which photoswitches present exciting opportunities for their use in optofluidics applications requiring tunable flow behavior.

ICB Affiliated Authors

Authors
Serena Seshadri, Luke F. Gockowski, Jaejun Lee, Miranda Sroda, Matthew E. Helgeson, Javier Read de Alaniz & Megan T. Valentine
Date
Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Journal
Nature Communications
Volume
110
Number
2599
Emblems