Patterning through Controlled Submolecular Motion: Rotaxane‐Based Switches and Logic Gates that Function in Solution and Polymer Films

Abstract

Shedding light on a mechanical event: Films of a polymer–rotaxane conjugate were cast on quartz slides, the films were covered with aluminum masks, and the unmasked areas were exposed to vapors of DMSO. The solvent induces a change in position of the macrocycle in the molecular shuttle that leads to “on” states of the rotaxane fluorescence in the unmasked areas (see image). Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2005/z500101_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.