Photomechanically Induced Magnetic Field Response by Controlling Molecular Orientation in 9‐Methylanthracene Microcrystals.

Abstract: A surfactant‐assisted seeded‐growth method is used to form single‐crystal platelets composed of 9‐methylanthracene with two different internal molecular orientations. The more stable form exhibits a photoinduced twisting, as observed previously for 9‐methylanthracene microribbons grown by the floating drop method. However, the newly discovered elongated hexagonal platelets undergo a photoinduced rolling‐up and unrolling. The ability of the rolled‐up cylindrical shape to trap superparamagnetic nanoparticles enables it to be carried along in a magnetic field gradient. The new photoinduced shape change, made possible by a novel surfactant‐assisted crystal growth method, opens up the possibility of using light to modulate the crystal translational motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]