SPP 2171 Spring Conference: Dynamic Wetting of Flexible, Adaptive, and Switchable Substrates

Molecular photoswitches are a unique type of molecules that can be switched reversibly between two isomers (shapes) upon irradiation with light. Since the two isomers of the molecular photoswitch have different properties, incorporation of photoswitches into materials and coatings can result in macroscopic effects such as photoswitchable surface wettability. In this project we will investigate a new type of molecular photoswitch to prepare surfaces with photoresponsive wettability. Due to optimized molecular design, the photoswitch can be self-assembled in molecular monolayers or embedded in polymer brush nanofilms with enhanced dynamic wettability.