Chair: Danqing Liu
Speakers: Lisa Tran (UU), Anjali Devi Das (TU/E)
The amplification of collective molecular motion from the nanoscopic to the macroscopic scale is probably one of the most intriguing challenges in materials science and will be fully explored in the coming decades. Two approaches can be distinguished: molecular switches and stimuli-responsive materials. Research on molecular switches has mainly focused on the motion of single molecules, with an emphasis on amplifying the effects obtained at the single-molecule level. In contrast, stimuli-responsive materials start at the macroscopic level, where materials adapt their shape to external stimuli. In this focus session, we aim to bridge the gap between these two approaches by bringing together chemistry, materials science and design engineering to discuss recent advances in motion in polymeric materials and devices, with exciting applications in energy harvesting and soft robotics.
