Selected Publications
- Foy, J. T. ; Li, Q. ; Goujon, A. ; Colard-Itté, J.-R. ; Fuks, G. ; Moulin, E. ; Schiffmann, O. ; Dattler, D. ; Funeriu, D. P. ; Giuseppone, N.” Dual-light control of nanomachines that integrate motor and modulator subunits”. Nature Nanotech. 2017, 12, 540-545.
- Li, Q.; Fuks, G.; Moulin, E.; Maaloum, M.; Rawiso, M.; Kulic, I.; Foy, J. T.; Giuseppone, N. “Macroscopic contraction of a gel induced by the integrated motion of light-driven molecular motors”. Nature Nanotech. 2015, 10, 161-165.
- Du, G.; Moulin, E.; Jouault, N.; Buhler, E.; Giuseppone, N.” Muscle-like Supramolecular Polymers – Integrated Motions from Thousands of Molecular Machines”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 12504-12508.
- Faramarzi, V.; Niess, F.; Moulin, E.; Maaloum, M.; Dayen, J.-F.; Beaufrand, J.-B.; Zanettini, S.; Doudin, B.; Giuseppone, N. “Light-triggered self-construction of supramolecular organic nanowires as metallic interconnects”. Nature Chem. 2012, 4, 485-490.
- Tauk, L.; Schröder, A.; Decher, G.; Giuseppone, N. ” Hierarchical Functional Gradients of pH-Responsive Self-Assembled Monolayers using Dynamic Covalent Chemistry on Surfaces”. Nature Chem. 2009, 1, 649-656.
FRIAS Project
Implementation of Light-Powered Nanomachines into Polymer Bulk: From Fundamentals of Active Matter to Functional, Life-Inspired Polymer Materials
Since they work far from thermodynamic equilibrium, biological systems exhibit active and adaptive functionalities that surpass the passive properties of present-day synthetic materials. Molecular machines are at the core of such biological out-of-equilibrium systems, and transduce energy (e.g. light, chemical) into mechanical motion and produce functions (e.g. transport, movement) from their mechanics. Our long-term vision is to develop concepts for the integration of artificial nanomachines into polymer bulk materials and develop the field of far-from- equilibrium, active polymer bulk materials (“active plastics”) – which would result in an entirely new class of life-like materials. This includes in particular to (i) realize a synthetic integration of light-powered nanomotors (capable of rotating at MHz frequency in unconstrained environment) into purposefully engineered polymers, (ii) understand the fundamental operational principles by a systematic study, and (iii) capitalize on this understanding with a first material implementation in the framework of light-adaptiven mechanical high-performance biomimetic nanocomposites, inspired by the structure in mother-of-pearl. To tackle the underlying interdisciplinary challenges, we merge our expertise in a coherent research program on several levels: molecular machines, organic and supramolecular chemistry, macromolecular engineering, polymer physics, advanced characterization, materials science and non-equilibrium active matter.