Piston-rotaxanes as molecular shock absorbers.

Abstract

We describe the thermomechanical response of a new molecular system that behaves as a shock absorber. The system consists of a rodlike rotaxane connected to a piston and tethered to a surface. The response of this system is dominated by the translational entropy of the rotaxane rings and can be calculated exactly. The force laws are contrasted with those for a rigid rod and a polymer. In some cases, the rotaxanes undergo a sudden transition to a tilted state when compressed. These piston-rotaxanes provide a potential motif for the design of a new class of materials with a novel thermomechanical response.

• Authors: E M Sevick, D R M Williams
• Journal: Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids (Langmuir) Vol. 26 Issue 8 Pg. 5864-8 (Apr 20 2010) ISSN: 1520-5827 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20158174 (Publication Type: Journal Article)