LANGMUIR
·
2026
·
IF 3.9
Meikun Hu,Jiaming Feng,Haoqian Wang,Zhihang Wang,Nong Wang
Stimulus-responsive emulsions and gels are powerful platforms for intelligent soft materials, yet the reversible light-controlled modulation of their macroscopic properties has remained elusive. Here we report a multicomponent aqueous formulation─comprising cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cosurfactants, oil, water, and para-aminoazobenzene (AAB)─that, depending on water content, enables robust and reversible control of both viscoelasticity and emulsion stability with light. Within a defined composition window, the system forms entangled wormlike micelles that impart gel-like viscoelasticity. Ultraviolet irradiation disrupts this network, reducing viscosity by orders of magnitude, while visible light restores the original structure. At higher water content, the same formulation produces stable oil-in-water emulsions whose integrity can be reversibly switched by photoisomerization-driven interfacial rearrangements. This dual-level responsiveness demonstrates a simple and general strategy to couple molecular photoisomerization with macroscopic flow and phase behavior, opening new opportunities for adaptive formulations, reconfigurable soft matter, and light-controlled delivery technologies.
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Polymers
·
2026
·Vol. 18
·期 15
·1902
·
IF 5.8
Jinxiong Wen,Xianhao Mao,Shaojun Chen,Yuanyuan Li,Zhiwen Tu,Huilin Lai,Haitao Zhuo
To address the critical limitations of traditional photothermal–responsive epoxy–based shape memory polymers (ESMPs), such as poor compatibility and cyclical instability, a series of side–chain azobenzene (Azo)–functionalized linear ESMPs (EPDm) were successfully synthesized via chemical bonding. Highly rigid 4–aminoazobenzene (Azodm) units were covalently integrated into the Bisphenol A–type epoxy backbone as functional photo–responsive side chains. Systematic characterizations confirmed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the EPDm polymers could be precisely tuned from 41.53 °C to 53.26 °C by adjusting the Azodm content. Benefiting from the proposed homogeneous covalent architecture, the EPDm films exhibited superior photothermal sequential behavior and remarkable shape memory stability despite a slight reduction in tensile strength (≈10–12 MPa). Under 365 nm UV irradiation, the pre–stretched EPDm10specimen achieved a rapid macroscopic bending angle of over 150° within 15 s, driven exclusively by thetrans–to–cismolecular photoisomerization of the Azo side chains well below the matrix Tg. Furthermore, standard shape memory cycles demonstrated excellent shape fixity (Rf> 98%) and recovery (Rr> 95%) ratios, alongside exceptional anti–fatigue performance with minimal strain variance (≈5%) over consecutive cycles. This work establishes a robust and high–efficiency molecular design strategy for photo–thermally sequentially responsive shape memory polymers, offering immense potential for smart actuators and flexible electronics.
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Science Advances
·
2026
·Vol. 12
·期 11
·
IF 13.9
Liyong Zhai,Shuaiqi Gao,Linlin Guo,Shuangjiang Luo,Zhiyong Li,Huiyong Wang,Suojiang Zhang,Jianji Wang
Membrane technology is crucial for the separations in chemical and biochemical industries because of its flexibility and reliability. However, conventional multistage separation requires multiple membranes with different pore sizes, leading to low efficiency and high energy consumption. Inspired by the light-responsive behavior of stomata in natural leaves, we successfully fabricated a highly efficient light-gated covalent organic framework (COF) membrane by using click reaction to incorporate 53.5 weight % azobenzene into the nanochannels, where the pore size of this membrane could be dynamically switched between 0.73 and 0.93 nanometers because of the reversible trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene. Notably, the light-gated COF membrane enabled efficient multistage separations of cannabidiol oil (a high-value pharmaceutical), limonene, and chlorophyll in hemp oil as well as gold, silver, and iron ions in simulated natural ores. The separation process remained stable over 100 trans-cis-trans cycles as a result of the formation of stable triazole bonds. Thus, this work provides an instructive strategy to develop light-gated COF membranes for precise molecular separations.
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ACS Nano
·
2026
·
IF 17.3
Chaonan Shang,Linwang Fan,Furui He,Shujuan Yang,Wen Zhang,Gaobo Yu,Yuhong Feng,Jiacheng Li
Efficient foliar delivery of agrochemicals requires precise spatiotemporal control over both foliar deposition and translocation in vivo. Drawing inspiration from natural systems, such as biomolecular recognition and vesicular transport across cellular membranes, the work proposes a heterointerface-confined coassembly (HICA) strategy that leverages emulsion interfaces to construct programmable three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanopesticide aggregates, thereby substantially enhancing the bioavailability and efficacy of active ingredients (AIs). At the molecular level, π–π stacking between a lipophilic herbicide (oxyfluorfen, Oxy) and amphiphilic alginate derivatives functionalized with azobenzene (Azo) and polydopamine (PDA) drives the formation of two-dimensional (2D) interfacial nanoparticle films, which template the growth of 3D flexible nanopesticide systems. These structurally ordered emulsions exhibit dual environmental responsiveness: NIR (808 nm) triggered photothermal morphing for adaptive foliar adhesion, while ultraviolet (UV) (365 nm) regulated Azo isomerization to enable spatiotemporally controlled Oxy release. Through a multiscale characterization integrating density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), the work confirms programmable supramolecular assembly and efficient translocation in vivo via both cuticular and vascular pathways. The resulting formulations demonstrated the desired impact resistance on superhydrophobic surfaces and achieved 100% weed mortality through a contact-translocation mode of action. By bridging supramolecular design, interfacial engineering, and functional emulsions, this work establishes a sustainable platform for intelligent agrochemical delivery with tailored environmental adaptability, offering a versatile route toward precision crop protection.
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LANGMUIR
·
2022
·
IF 4.331
Chaonan Li,Ya Wang,Zihao Wang,Xiaogang Li
Although paraquat is a widely used herbicide, it is toxic to humans if ingested or absorbed through an open wound. To improve the safety of paraquat, a new formulation of paraquat based on photoresponsive polymers was exploited. Photoresponsive β-cyclodextrin polymer microspheres (AZO-CD) were synthesized via a host–guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin and azobenzene. AZO-CD were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, circular dichroism, ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry, and thermogravimetric analysis, and their photoresponsiveness was also evaluated. AZO-CD were used to load paraquat, which yielded photoresponsive paraquat-loaded microspheres. For the paraquat-loaded microspheres, irradiation with UV light or sunlight induced the isomerization of azobenzene into the cis form. Then, the cis-azobenzene was liberated from the cavities of the β-cyclodextrin. The paraquat-loaded microspheres released paraquat continuously over time. Furthermore, under UV light, the herbicidal capacity of the paraquat-loaded microspheres against barnyard grass was comparable to that of free paraquat at the same dose. Our findings show that loading paraquat into AZO-CD provides a safe and environmentally friendly herbicide formulation.
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MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
·
2022
·Vol. 307
·期 5
·2100921
·
IF 4.402
Junjie He,Zhongqun Zhou,Shenye Chen,Caili Yu,Faai Zhang
The substantial progress made in extrinsic self-healing has been limited to microcapsules containing heat-active polymerizable monomers. Fabrication of self-healing microvascular and nanoparticle systems that are responsive to light is, therefore, an important task. In this study, using azobenzene-grafted mesoporous SBA-15 (Azo-SBA) as the functional nanocontainer to adsorb a photoactive repair agent (glycidyl methacrylate, GMA)(GMA@Azo-SBA), a facile yet feasible strategy is demonstrated to prepare photoresponsive self-healing epoxy composites. The resulting composite integrates the controllable fixation and release of the repair agent driven by the isomerization of azobenzene and photo-induced self-healing properties under UV irradiation. The hydrogenated epoxy resin composite, incorporated with isophorone diamine (IPDA) as the curing agent and 2 wt.% GMA@Azo-SBA and 4 wt.% photoinitiator, exhibits desirable self-healing properties; the microcracks of the composite can be completely repaired after self-healing for 15 min. In addition, the pyrene-modified GMA monomer with fluorescence characteristics as a fluorescent probe is further employed to successfully visualize the fixation and release process of the repair agent under UV irradiation.
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SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
·
2022
·
IF 4.831
Xinyue Kou,Li Li,Qian Mei,Wen-Fei Dong,Yucai Wang
Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have garnered significant attention because of their outstanding photophysical characteristics. AIEgens are used in fluorescence imaging, sensors, tumor treatment, and other related fields. However, the synthese of these AIEgens are relatively complicated and requires expensive raw materials. These drawbacks limit their applications and development to a certain extent. In this study, using cheap and convenient materials, we developed a new type of carbon dots (O-CDs) using a one-step solvothermal method, which has the potential to become a new AIEgen. O-CDs exhibit different fluorescence colors in different solvents, and they exist as monomers in ethylic acid and, ethanol alcohol, etc., exhibiting blue fluorescence. After adding water, the fluorescence of O-CDs gradually turns orange red, because the internal rotation of the disulfide bond molecules is restricted and the AIE effect occurs. Using the unique AIE performance of O-CDs, we fabricated an anti-counterfeiting luminous ink, that can be used for encryption in the reversible double switch mode.
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SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
·
2022
·
IF 9.221
Ruoyu Dai,Yaoping Hu
Quantitative determination of hazardous synthetic colorants in food is quite essential for human health. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescence method is developed for sensitive and selective detection of acid red 18 (AR18) using green/red dual emissive carbon dots (g/r-CDs) as probes. The as-synthesized g/r-CDs exhibit two emission peaks at 508 and 610 nm under excitation of a UV light. When AR18 is added, the green fluorescence of g/r-CDs at 508 nm is quenched dramatically due to the strong inner filter effect; in contrast, the red fluorescence at 610 nm decreases much more mildly. The intensity ratio of I 610 /I 508 has a good linearity with the AR18 concentration over the range of 0.05–8.00 μM. A detection limit of 16 nM is obtained, much lower than the most values reported by former analytical methods. Based on the g/r-CD sensor, accurate determination of AR18 in drinks and candy is successfully realized, demonstrating the good practicability of the proposed method for AR18 monitoring in real samples.
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Frontiers in Materials
·
2021
·
IF 3.515
Lin Xiaoxia,Zhang Haitao,Qin Yuqing,Hu Xiaohong
Traditional hydrogel has usually had restricted application in the biomedical field due to lack of a control unit. Herein, Azobenzene (AZO), as a typical kind of photo-response molecule, was introduced into hydrogel by polymerization to provide a control unit for hydrogel. Simultaneously, the immobilization of AZO end group would solve the problems of uncontrollable recovery and light fatigue for AZO small molecules according to previous research. In the research, two kinds of crosslinkable AZO molecules, namely AZO crosslinker and AZO monomer, were synthesized as functional monomers or crosslinkers. Further, AZO copolymerized hydrogel and AZO crosslinked hydrogel were obtained. In order to estimate fundamental properties for contact lenses, gelation time and swelling ratio of hydrogels as a function of AZO concentration as well as crosslinking type were investigated. Moreover, synthesized hydrogels exhibited typical porous morphology, but their size and homogeneity were dependent on the type of hydrogel. In order to evaluate photo-responsive performance, detailed photo induced isomerization of both AZO copolymerized hydrogel and crosslinked hydrogel were tracked by UV spectra. The results confirmed the reversible, stable, and controllable photo responsive process. In vitro evaluation was used to investigate drug release behavior using orfloxacin and puerarin as model drugs. It was found that AZO addition as well as hydrogel type would influence puerarin release, but would have little effect on the orfloxacin release behavior in hydrogels. Furthermore, the isomer type in the hydrogel would have some effects on drug release behavior including orfloxacin and puerarin.
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Light-Science & Applications
·
2021
·Vol. 10
·期 1
·1-9
·
IF 17.782
Chen Baiyi,Zhang Rongrong,Hou Yaqi,Zhang Jian,Chen Shiyan,Han Yuhang,Chen Xinyu,Hou Xu
Safe and precise control of gas flow is one of the key factors to many physical and chemical processes, such as degassing, natural gas transportation, and gas sensor. In practical application, it is essential for the gas-involved physicochemical process to keep everything under control and safe, which significantly relies on the controllability, safety, and stability of their valves. Here we show a light-responsive and corrosion-resistant gas valve with non-thermal effective liquid-gating positional flow control under a constant pressure by incorporating dynamic gating liquid with light responsiveness of solid porous substrate. Our experimental and theoretical analysis reveal that the photoisomerization of azobenzene-based molecular photoswitches on the porous substrate enabled the gas valve to possess a light-responsive and reversible variation of substantial critical pressure of non-thermal effective gas flow switch. Moreover, the chemically inert gating liquid prevented the solid substrate from corrosion and, by combining with the high spatiotemporal resolution of light, the gas valve realizes a precisely positional open and close under a steady-state pressure. The application demonstrations in our results show the potentials of the new gas valve for bringing opportunities to many applications, such as gas-involved reaction control in microfluidics, soft actuators, and beyond.
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Advanced Fiber Materials
·
2021
·Vol. 3
·期 3
·172-179
·
IF 0
Zhu Miaomiao,Wang Weijie,Zhang Caihong,Zhu Liping,Yang Shuguang
Abstract Two azobenzene compounds, Disperse Red 1 (DR1) and 4-aminoazobenzene (Aazo), were separately linked to poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) side chains to form PAA-DR1 and PAA-Aazo, which were then associated with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to produce hydrogen-bonded polymer complex fibers. After UV irradiation, the initial modulus and yielding strength of PAA-Aazo/PEO fiber were both increased tremendously, while the mechanical properties of PAA-DR1/PEO fiber only slightly changed. After drawn and dried in vacuum, PAA-DR1/PEO and PAA-Aazo/PEO fibers with an extended length exhibited a contraction of 20% and 25% under UV irradiation, showing potential for photo-actuation. Graphic Abstract
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RSC Advances
·
2020
·Vol. 10
·期 58
·35164-35173
·
IF 3.119
Juan Pang,Xincheng Mao,Jialin Xu,Xiang Zhao,Jingyang Kong,Xiaohong Hu
The application of azobenzene (AZO) as a kind of photo-switch is restricted by its excitation source, i.e., UV light. Hence, visible light-driven azobenzene-based photo-switching is needed and has been designed in the work. In order to forecast the optimal triggered wavelength, the electrostatic potential, theoretical UV-vis spectra, as well as the energy gap for focused structures was calculated to describe the energy and orbit status of the molecules by DFT. According to the theoretical optimization results, m-Methyl Red (m-MR) containing copolymer was successfully synthesized as a visible light-driven photo-switch. Further, for performance evaluation, the efficiency and effectiveness of different excitation wavelengths was firstly evaluated for the copolymer using m-MR and m-Methyl Red acrylic anhydride (m-MRAA) as the controls. Compared with m-MR and m-MRAA, the copolymer exhibited outstanding characteristics as a photo-switch according to its response–recovery behavior. At the same time, blue light proved to be the most efficient excitation light source. Moreover, the equilibrium response time and recovery time showed some dependence on the excitation wavelength. Secondly, the influence of the light intensity on the isomerization transition was investigated. A relatively low light density could lead to a relatively low degree of the final cis form and needed more equilibrium time for trans to cis transformation but showed little effect on the recovery process. Thirdly, repeatable on/off irradiation was used to evaluate the fatigue resistance of the copolymer. Good fatigue resistance without photobleaching was verified from the results. Fourthly, the influence of the solvent on visible light-driven isomerization was also evaluated. Finally, the synthesized copolymer still had the characteristic of a pH indicator with a critical point at pH 5.0 and exhibited an obvious fluorescent characteristic.
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