Scientists Discover “Shape-Shifting” Semiconductors Activated by Light

Researchers at UC Davis and collaborators found halide perovskite crystals change shape rapidly and reversibly under light.

The team used laser illumination and X-ray probes to observe photo-induced lattice distortions.

The structural response varies with material composition and with the light’s frequency and intensity.

The work was published in Advanced Materials and funded by DARPA and the NSF.

The experiments used crystals made at ETH Zürich and facilities at UC Davis.