Molecular Springs: Integration of Complex Dynamic Architectures into Functional Devices

Molecular/supramolecular springs are artificial nanoscale objects possessing well-defined structures and tunable physicochemical properties. Like a macroscopic spring, supramolecular springs are capable of switching their nanoscale conformation as a response to external stimuli by undergoing mechanical spring-like motions. This dynamic action offers intriguing opportunities for engineering molecular nanomachines by translating the stimuli-responsive nanoscopic motions into macroscopic work. These nanoscopic objects are reversible dynamic multifunctional architectures which can express a variety of novel properties and behave as adaptive nanoscopic systems. In this Minireview, we focus on the design and structure-property relationships of supramolecular springs and their (self-)assembly as a prerequisite towards the generation of novel dynamic materials featuring controlled movements to be readily integrated into macroscopic devices for applications in sensing, robotics, and the internet of things.