Enhancing Light-Induced Thermal Actuation with Gold Nanoplates

摘要

Development of microscale actuating technologies has been critical for interacting with elements at the cellular level. Small-scale actuators and switches have potential in areas such as microscale pumping and particle manipulation. Thermal actuation has been combined with unique geometries to create large deflections with high force relative to electrostatically driven systems. However, many thermally based techniques require a physical connection for power and operate outside the temperature range conducive for biological studies and medical applications. The work presented here describes the theory, design, and experimental response of an out-of-plane microactuator that reacts with enhanced absorbtion of near-infrared light by patterning a wavelength-specific absorbent gold nanoplate (GNPlate) film onto the microstructure. Near IR wavelength light is able to harmlessly permeate living tissue, and high stress mismatch in the bilayer geometry allows for large actuation under biologically acceptable conditions.