Increasing the interlayer distance in layered microribbons enhances the electrically driven twisting response

Abstract

We designed a class of layered microribbons self-assembled from perylene diimide (PDI) molecules that exhibited a fast electrically driven twisting response. By increasing the length of the side chains of the PDIs, the microribbons maintained the same intralayer molecular orientation but exhibited enlarged interlayer distances, and the elasticity moduli of the resulting layered microribbons were effectively reduced from similar to 1.5 GPa to similar to 75 MPa. The electrically driven twisting response of the microribbons was inversely proportional to the elasticity modulus, indicating that the electroresponse of the resulting materials can be controlled through the interlayer distance. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the influence of the elastic modulus of the microribbons on the electrically driven twisting follows a screw dislocation mechanism. Our work provides a way to design and develop soft materials with a fast mechanical response to external stimuli.