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- Title
Molecular motor-driven abrupt anisotropic shape change in a single crystal of a Ni complex.
- Authors
Yao, Zi-Shuo; Mito, Masaki; Kamachi, Takashi; Shiota, Yoshihito; Yoshizawa, Kazunari; Azuma, Nobuaki; Miyazaki, Yuji; Takahashi, Kazuyuki; Zhang, Kuirun; Nakanishi, Takumi; Kang, Soonchul; Kanegawa, Shinji; Sato, Osamu
- Abstract
Many molecular machines with controllable molecular-scale motors have been developed. However, transmitting molecular movement to the macroscopic scale remains a formidable challenge. Here we report a single crystal of a Ni complex whose shape changes abruptly and reversibly in response to thermal changes at around room temperature. Variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystalline shape change is induced by an unusual 90° rotation of uniaxially aligned oxalate molecules. The oxalate dianions behave as molecular-scale rotors, with their movement propagated through the entire crystalline material via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Consequently, the subnanometre-scale changes in the oxalate molecules are instantly amplified to a micrometre-scale contraction or expansion of the crystal, accompanied by a thermal hysteresis loop. The shape change in the crystal was clearly detected under an optical microscope. The large directional deformation and prompt response suggest a role for this material in microscale or nanoscale thermal actuators.
- Subjects
ANISOTROPIC crystals; SINGLE crystals; HYDROPHILIC compounds; HYDROGEN bonding; CRYSTAL chemical bonds; HYSTERESIS
- Publication
Nature Chemistry, 2014, Vol 6, Issue 12, p1079
- ISSN
1755-4330
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nchem.2092