Stimuli-responsive Surfaces and Interfaces

Although the field of stimuli-responsive surfaces and interfaces is huge, this chapter highlights several surface and interfacial features that are critical in designing stimuli-responsive surfaces. Differentiating from the bulk, characteristic features including the glass transition (Tg) and the temperature of melting of surfaces are discussed, followed by theoretical considerations. Because switchability of surfaces offers many advantages used in numerous applications, the remaining sections of this chapter discuss the chemistry of photo-, pH- or DNA-responsive surfaces, as well as supramolecular shuttles and molecular motors.