Fig. 1: Schematic illustration of the comparison between overcrowded alkene-derived motor (MA) and switch (SA) amphiphile-based supramolecular artificial muscles.
a Reversible actuating function of the MA artificial muscles induced by molecular photoisomerization and subsequent thermal helix inversion process was developed by Feringa et al. in 2017 (Copyright © 2017, The Authors)42. Light bulb and thermometer designed by Dr. Roza R. Weber. b Molecular design and switch properties of SA: photoisomerization and subsequent high thermal stability of SA allow for precise control of molecular motions, which would expect to provide new insights into the reversible actuating mechanisms of the supramolecular artificial muscles by eliminating the molecular motions during the photoactuation and aging process.
