Materials Move in Response to Light

In biology, there are many examples where light induces movement or change — think of flowers and leaves turning toward sunlight. Magnetic elastomeric composites were developed that move in different ways when exposed to light, raising the possibility that these materials could enable a wide range of products that perform simple to complex movements, from tiny engines and valves, to solar arrays that bend toward the sunlight. These simple movements could be combined into more complex motion like crawling, walking, or swimming, and can be triggered and controlled wirelessly using light.