Photoresponsive Fluids Aimee Ketner

Objective
Develop a unique type of fluid whose rheological properties can be reversibly altered by light irradiation.

Methods
Irradiate a solution containing a conventional surfactant and a photoresponsive additive with UV light and check for changes in structure and viscosity using SANS and rheology.

Results
(1) Upon UV light irradiation, these long cylindrical micelles undergo a transition into much smaller spherical micelles. (2) After irradiation with UV light the solution, viscosity drops by 4 orders of magnitude.