Patent ID: 8557140

Claim:
A method of actuating, the method comprising: irradiating an photoresponsive particle actuator with ultraviolet light thereby causing the photoresponsive particle actuator to contract in at least one dimension, and irradiating the photoresponsive particle actuator with visible light thereby causing the photoresponsive particle actuator to expand in the same at least one dimension, wherein the photoresponsive particle actuator has a layered smectic ordering, comprising a photoresponsive moiety selected from the group consisting of azobenzene, stilbene, and spiropyran, wherein said photoresponsive particle actuator is in a condition of having been formed from a surfactant and at least two polymer precursors, wherein each polymer precursor comprises azobenzene as said photoresponsive moiety, flanked by alkyl chains having from 4 to 10 carbons, and wherein the surfactant and at least one of the at least two polymer precursors comprise a crosslinking moiety selected from the group consisting of acrylate, vinyl ether, and epoxide.