Papers
2
Total Citations
268
H-Index
2
About
Emi Uchida is a pioneering researcher in the field of molecular crystalline actuators, specializing in the photomechanical and thermomechanical behavior of organic crystals. Her work fundamentally challenges the traditional view of crystals as static, brittle materials, instead revealing them as dynamic, mechanically responsive objects capable of complex motion. Uchida’s most celebrated contribution is her 2015 discovery of light-induced crawling in crystals, where she demonstrated that a simple azobenzene crystal could move directionally and continuously across a glass surface under UV light—a phenomenon that has garnered 266 citations and opened new avenues for soft robotics and micro-machines. More recently, in 2025, she achieved an abrupt and reversible stretching of over 8% in a single azobenzene crystal via a thermal phase transition, a breakthrough that promises highly durable, large-deformation actuators. Her research is notable for its elegance and precision, often using single-component systems to achieve macroscopic mechanical responses. With a citation count reflecting her growing influence, Uchida stands at the forefront of materials science, inspiring new generations of researchers to reimagine the potential of crystalline matter.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Light-induced crawling of crystals on a glass surface266 citations · 2015
- 2