@article{BekirJelkenJungetal.2021, author = {Bekir, Marek and Jelken, Joachim and Jung, Se-Hyeong and Pich, Andrij and Pacholski, Claudia and Kopyshev, Alexey and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Dual responsiveness of microgels induced by single light stimulus}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {118}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/5.0036376}, pages = {6}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We report on the multiple response of microgels triggered by a single optical stimulus. Under irradiation, the volume of the microgels is reversibly switched by more than 20 times. The irradiation initiates two different processes: photo-isomerization of the photo-sensitive surfactant, which forms a complex with the anionic microgel, rendering it photo-responsive; and local heating due to a thermo-plasmonic effect within the structured gold layer on which the microgel is deposited. The photo-responsivity is related to the reversible accommodation/release of the photo-sensitive surfactant depending on its photo-isomerization state, while the thermo-sensitivity is intrinsically built in. We show that under exposure to green light, the thermo-plasmonic effect generates a local hot spot in the gold layer, resulting in the shrinkage of the microgel. This process competes with the simultaneous photo-induced swelling. Depending on the position of the laser spot, the spatiotemporal control of reversible particle shrinking/swelling with a predefined extent on a per-second base can be implemented.}, language = {en} } @article{JelkenPandiyarajanGenzeretal.2018, author = {Jelken, Joachim and Pandiyarajan, Chinnayan Kannan and Genzer, Jan and Lomadze, Nino and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Fabrication of flexible hydrogel sheets featuring periodically spaced circular holes with continuously adjustable size in realtime}, series = {ACS applied materials \& interfaces}, volume = {10}, journal = {ACS applied materials \& interfaces}, number = {36}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1944-8244}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.8b09580}, pages = {30844 -- 30851}, year = {2018}, abstract = {We report on the formation of stimuli-responsive structured hydrogel thin films whose pattern geometry can be adjusted on demand and tuned reversibly by varying solvent quality or by changing temperature. The hydrogel films, similar to 100 nm in thickness, were prepared by depositing layers of random copolymers comprising N-isopropylacrylamide and ultraviolet (UV)-active methacryloyloxybenzophenone units onto solid substrates. A two-beam interference pattern technique was used to cross-link the selected areas of the film; any unreacted material was extracted using ethanol after UV light-assisted cross-linking. In this way, we produced nanoholes, perfectly ordered structures with a narrow size distribution, negligible tortuosity, adjustable periodicity, and a high density. The diameter of the circular holes ranged from a few micrometers down to several tens of nanometers; the hole periodicity could be adjusted readily by changing the optical period of the UV interference pattern. The holes were reversibly closed and opened by swelling/deswelling the polymer networks in the presence of ethanol and water, respectively, at various temperatures. The reversible regulation of the hole diameter can be repeated many times within a few seconds. The hydrogel sheet with circular holes periodically arranged may also be transferred onto different substrates and be employed as tunable templates for the deposition of desired substances.}, language = {en} } @article{JelkenHenkelSanter2020, author = {Jelken, Joachim and Henkel, Carsten and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Formation of half-period surface relief gratings in azobenzene containing polymer films}, series = {Applied physics : B, Lasers and optics}, volume = {126}, journal = {Applied physics : B, Lasers and optics}, number = {9}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {0946-2171}, doi = {10.1007/s00340-020-07500-w}, pages = {14}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We study the peculiar response of photo-sensitive polymer films irradiated with a certain type of interference pattern where one interfering beam is S-polarized, while the second one is P-polarized. The polymer film, although in a glassy state, deforms following the local polarization distribution of the incident light, and a surface relief grating (SRG) appears whose period is half the optical one. All other types of interference patterns result in the matching of both periods. The topographical response is triggered by the alignment of photo-responsive azobenzene containing polymer side chains orthogonal to the local electrical field, resulting in a bulk birefringence grating (BBG). We investigate the process of dual grating formation (SRG and BBG) in a polymer film utilizing a dedicated set-up that combines probe beam diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, and permits acquiring in situ and in real-time information about changes in local topography and birefringence. We find that the SRG maxima appear at the positions of linearly polarized light (tilted by 45 degrees relative to the grating vector), causing the formation of the half-period topography. This permits to inscribe symmetric and asymmetric topography gratings with sub-wavelength period, while changing only slightly the polarization of one of the interfering beams. We demonstrate an easy generation of sawtooth profiles (blazed gratings) with adjustable shape. With these results, we have taken a significant step in understanding the photo-induced deformation of azo-polymer films.}, language = {en} } @article{AryaJelkenLomadzeetal.2020, author = {Arya, Pooja and Jelken, Joachim and Lomadze, Nino and Santer, Svetlana and Bekir, Marek}, title = {Kinetics of photo-isomerization of azobenzene containing surfactants}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistry}, volume = {152}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistry}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.5135913}, pages = {10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report on photoisomerization kinetics of azobenzene containing surfactants in aqueous solution. The surfactant molecule consists of a positively charged trimethylammonium bromide head group, a hydrophobic spacer connecting via 6 to 10 CH2 groups to the azobenzene unit, and the hydrophobic tail of 1 and 3CH(2) groups. Under exposure to light, the azobenzene photoisomerizes from more stable trans- to metastable cis-state, which can be switched back either thermally in dark or by illumination with light of a longer wavelength. The surfactant isomerization is described by a kinetic model of a pseudo first order reaction approaching equilibrium, where the intensity controls the rate of isomerization until the equilibrated state. The rate constants of the trans-cis and cis-trans photoisomerization are calculated as a function of several parameters such as wavelength and intensity of light, the surfactant concentration, and the length of the hydrophobic tail. The thermal relaxation rate from cis- to trans-state is studied as well. The surfactant isomerization shows a different kinetic below and above the critical micellar concentration of the trans isomer due to steric hindrance within the densely packed micelle but does not depend on the spacer length.}, language = {en} } @article{AryaJelkenFeldmannetal.2020, author = {Arya, Pooja and Jelken, Joachim and Feldmann, David and Lomadze, Nino and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Light driven diffusioosmotic repulsion and attraction of colloidal particles}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {152}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {19}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/5.0007556}, pages = {10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In this paper, we introduce the phenomenon of light driven diffusioosmotic long-range attraction and repulsion of porous particles under irradiation with UV light. The change in the inter-particle interaction potential is governed by flow patterns generated around single colloids and results in reversible aggregation or separation of the mesoporous silica particles that are trapped at a solid surface. The range of the interaction potential extends to several times the diameter of the particle and can be adjusted by varying the light intensity. The "fuel" of the process is a photosensitive surfactant undergoing photo-isomerization from a more hydrophobic trans-state to a rather hydrophilic cis-state. The surfactant has different adsorption affinities to the particles depending on the isomerization state. The trans-isomer, for example, tends to accumulate in the negatively charged pores of the particles, while the cis-isomer prefers to remain in the solution. This implies that when under UV irradiation cis-isomers are being formed within the pores, they tend to diffuse out readily and generate an excess concentration near the colloid's outer surface, ultimately resulting in the initiation of diffusioosmotic flow. The direction of the flow depends strongly on the dynamic redistribution of the fraction of trans- and cis-isomers near the colloids due to different kinetics of photo-isomerization within the pores as compared to the bulk. The unique feature of the mechanism discussed in the paper is that the long-range mutual repulsion but also the attraction can be tuned by convenient external optical stimuli such as intensity so that a broad variety of experimental situations for manipulation of a particle ensemble can be realized.}, language = {en} } @article{JelkenSanter2019, author = {Jelken, Joachim and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Light induced reversible structuring of photosensitive polymer films}, series = {RSC Advances}, volume = {9}, journal = {RSC Advances}, number = {35}, publisher = {RSC Publishing}, address = {London}, issn = {2046-2069}, doi = {10.1039/C9RA02571E}, pages = {20295 -- 20305}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In this paper we report on photoswitchable polymer surfaces with dynamically and reversibly fluctuating topographies. It is well known that when azobenzene containing polymer films are irradiated with optical interference patterns the film topography changes to form a surface relief grating. In the simplest case, the film shape mimics the intensity distribution and deforms into a wave like, sinusoidal manner with amplitude that may be as large as the film thickness. This process takes place in the glassy state without photo-induced softening. Here we report on an intriguing discovery regarding the formation of reliefs under special illumination conditions. We have developed a novel setup combining the optical part for creating interference patterns, an AFM for in situ acquisition of topography changes and diffraction efficiency signal measurements. In this way we demonstrate that these gratings can be "set in motion" like water waves or dunes in the desert. We achieve this by applying repetitive polarization changes to the incoming interference pattern. Such light responsive surfaces represent the prerequisite for providing practical applications ranging from conveyer or transport systems for adsorbed liquid objects and colloidal particles to generation of adaptive and dynamic optical devices.}, language = {en} } @misc{JelkenSanter2019, author = {Jelken, Joachim and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Light induced reversible structuring of photosensitive polymer films}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {750}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-43643}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436432}, pages = {20295 -- 20305}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In this paper we report on photoswitchable polymer surfaces with dynamically and reversibly fluctuating topographies. It is well known that when azobenzene containing polymer films are irradiated with optical interference patterns the film topography changes to form a surface relief grating. In the simplest case, the film shape mimics the intensity distribution and deforms into a wave like, sinusoidal manner with amplitude that may be as large as the film thickness. This process takes place in the glassy state without photo-induced softening. Here we report on an intriguing discovery regarding the formation of reliefs under special illumination conditions. We have developed a novel setup combining the optical part for creating interference patterns, an AFM for in situ acquisition of topography changes and diffraction efficiency signal measurements. In this way we demonstrate that these gratings can be "set in motion" like water waves or dunes in the desert. We achieve this by applying repetitive polarization changes to the incoming interference pattern. Such light responsive surfaces represent the prerequisite for providing practical applications ranging from conveyer or transport systems for adsorbed liquid objects and colloidal particles to generation of adaptive and dynamic optical devices.}, language = {en} } @misc{LoebnerJelkenYadavallietal.2017, author = {Loebner, Sarah and Jelken, Joachim and Yadavalli, Nataraja Sekhar and Sava, Elena and Hurduc, Nicolae and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Motion of adsorbed nano-particles on azobenzene containing polymer films}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-400423}, pages = {11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We demonstrate in situ recorded motion of nano-objects adsorbed on a photosensitive polymer film. The motion is induced by a mass transport of the underlying photoresponsive polymer material occurring during irradiation with interference pattern. The polymer film contains azobenzene molecules that undergo reversible photoisomerization reaction from trans- to cis-conformation. Through a multi-scale chain of physico-chemical processes, this finally results in the macro-deformations of the film due to the changing elastic properties of polymer. The topographical deformation of the polymer surface is sensitive to a local distribution of the electrical field vector that allows for the generation of dynamic changes in the surface topography during irradiation with different light interference patterns. Polymer film deformation together with the motion of the adsorbed nano-particles are recorded using a homemade set-up combining an optical part for the generation of interference patterns and an atomic force microscope for acquiring the surface deformation. The particles undergo either translational or rotational motion. The direction of particle motion is towards the topography minima and opposite to the mass transport within the polymer film. The ability to relocate particles by photo-induced dynamic topography fluctuation offers a way for a non-contact simultaneous manipulation of a large number of adsorbed particles just in air at ambient conditions.}, language = {en} } @misc{LoebnerJelkenYadavallietal.2016, author = {Loebner, Sarah and Jelken, Joachim and Yadavalli, Nataraja Sekhar and Sava, Elena and Hurduc, Nicolae and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Motion of Adsorbed Nano-Particles on Azobenzene Containing Polymer Films}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {21}, journal = {Molecules}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules21121663}, pages = {397 -- 411}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We demonstrate in situ recorded motion of nano-objects adsorbed on a photosensitive polymer film. The motion is induced by a mass transport of the underlying photoresponsive polymer material occurring during irradiation with interference pattern. The polymer film contains azobenzene molecules that undergo reversible photoisomerization reaction from trans-to cis-conformation. Through a multi-scale chain of physico-chemical processes, this finally results in the macro-deformations of the film due to the changing elastic properties of polymer. The topographical deformation of the polymer surface is sensitive to a local distribution of the electrical field vector that allows for the generation of dynamic changes in the surface topography during irradiation with different light interference patterns. Polymer film deformation together with the motion of the adsorbed nano-particles are recorded using a homemade set-up combining an optical part for the generation of interference patterns and an atomic force microscope for acquiring the surface deformation. The particles undergo either translational or rotational motion. The direction of particle motion is towards the topography minima and opposite to the mass transport within the polymer film. The ability to relocate particles by photo-induced dynamic topography fluctuation offers a way for a non-contact simultaneous manipulation of a large number of adsorbed particles just in air at ambient conditions.}, language = {en} } @article{JelkenHenkelSanter2020, author = {Jelken, Joachim and Henkel, Carsten and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Polarization controlled fine structure of diffraction spots from an optically induced grating}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {116}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {5}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.5140067}, pages = {4}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report on the remote control of the fine structure of a diffraction spot from optically induced dual gratings within a photosensitive polymer film. The material contains azobenzene in the polymer side chains and develops a surface relief under two-beam holographic irradiation. The diffraction of a polarized probe beam is sensitive to the orientation of the azobenzene groups forming a permanently stored birefringence grating within the film. We demonstrate that the fine structure of the probe diffraction spot switches from a Gaussian to a hollow or a hollow to a "Saturn"-like structure by a change in polarization. This makes it potentially useful in photonic devices because the beam shape can be easily inverted by an external stimulus.}, language = {en} }