Multistimuli-Responsive Dynamic Effects in a One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer

The
development of multistimuli-receptive actuators demands a rational
combination of suitable functionalities. Achieving such actuating
properties in a single crystalline material is a challenge. In spite
of several investigations on photo-, thermo,- and mechano-responsive
crystals, single crystalline material displaying all these effects
is rare. By a judicious combination of photoreactive 2-fluoro-4′-styrylpyridine
units and flexible Pb3(SCN)3 units, a multistimuli-responsive
one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer (CP) showing all these dynamic
effects has been fabricated. Single crystals of the CP display rapid
ballistic events upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation triggered by [2
+ 2] cycloaddition of photoreactive ligands. In addition, macroscopic
jumping, bending, and splitting of the crystals were observed during
both heating and cooling cycles because of reversible phase transition.
Further, slender crystals of the CP exhibit elastic deformation upon
the application of mechanical force. With handful of examples of CPs
show macroscopic dynamic effects, this CP paves the way for designing
multistimuli-responsive multisalient actuating materials.