Light-Triggered Molecular Level Self-Healing Spiropyran Thin Film

Spiropyran thin film with capability of light-triggered molecular level self-healing has been successfully designed and fabricated by Langmuir-Blodgett technology. Various remarkable properties of thin film shrinkage or height increase or self-healing nano-defect recovery under different fabrication conditions have been observed. In addition, further evidence of the self-healing, which resulted from the movement of spiropyran molecules (such as "standing" "lie-down" and "tip-toes" etc.) on the substrate, has also been observed from the reversible contact angle change of the thin film.