Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic chiral helixes using anisotropic polymer assembly shows a great potential for designing micromechanical systems and soft robotics. However, movement of flexible polymer chains make the fabrication of 3D macroscopic helical ribbons with excellent shape stability under high temperature or multitudes of stretch/strain cycling very problematic. This paper presents the polarization-induced alignment of a non-LC supramolecular azobenzene-polyimide assembly (Azo/f-PI). We prepare 3D left- or right-handed Azo/f-PI helixes with shape-persistence, high-elasticity and photoresponsivity by large-area molecularly oriented assembly films. The Azo/f-PI helix treated at 100 °C for 10 min retains its linear-elastic deformation with 77.16% retention of the elastic potential energy density (0.304 J/g), and an extremely low permanent deformation of 3.68% upon 1000 stretching-relaxation cycles. Moreover, the 3D helix exhibited a light-driven elongation up to about 175.0% of the original length under UV irradiation. This 3D high-elastic helix with excellent shape persistence and photo-responsive actuability opens a gate for micromechanical control.

中文翻译：

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偶氮苯/氟化聚酰亚胺的极化诱导排列用于三维形状持久和光响应弹性螺旋

摘要 使用各向异性聚合物组装的三维 (3D) 宏观手性螺旋显示出设计微机械系统和软机器人的巨大潜力。然而，柔性聚合物链的运动使得在高温或大量拉伸/应变循环下具有优异形状稳定性的 3D 宏观螺旋带的制造非常成问题。本文介绍了非 LC 超分子偶氮苯-聚酰亚胺组件 (Azo/f-PI) 的极化诱导排列。我们通过大面积分子取向组装膜制备具有形状持久性、高弹性和光响应性的 3D 左手或右手 Azo/f-PI 螺旋。在 100 °C 下处理 10 分钟的 Azo/f-PI 螺旋保持其线弹性变形，弹性势能密度 (0.304 J/g) 保持率为 77.16%，1000 次拉伸-松弛循环后永久变形极低，仅为 3.68%。此外，3D 螺旋在紫外线照射下表现出高达原始长度的 175.0% 的光驱动伸长率。这种具有出色形状持久性和光响应可操作性的 3D 高弹性螺旋为微机械控制打开了大门。