Plastic Motor Powered by Light Alone Without The Need for Solar Cells

Gizmodo is reporting that a team led by Professor Tomiki Ikeda from the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a plastic motor that runs on direct light. Unlike solar power, there is no need for storing energy before conversion. The motor can achieve this feat thanks to a plastic compound containing azobenzene which contracts when exposed to ultraviolet light and returns to its original shape when exposed to visible light.

The materials is made into a belt wrapped around two different sized wheels. When the larger wheel is exposed to ultraviolet light and the smaller one to visible light movement occurs. Although inefficient at converting light energy into kinetic energy Professor Ikeda is confident this can be improved and could lead to people driving light powered plastic motor vehicles.