Jun‐ichi Mamiya

Papers

Total Citations

379

H-Index

About

Jun-ichi Mamiya is a leading figure in the field of photomechanical materials, best known for pioneering the development of photomobile polymer systems. His core research focuses on azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymers, where he explores how light can be harnessed to induce precise, complex mechanical motion. Mamiya’s most celebrated contribution is his 2008 paper on “Photomobile polymer materials—various three-dimensional movements,” which has garnered 379 citations and is considered a seminal work in soft robotics. In this study, he demonstrated that by combining a crosslinked azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymer with a flexible polymer film, simple devices could be created that mimic biological locomotion—such as walking like an ‘inchworm’ or moving like a ‘robotic arm’—solely under light irradiation. This breakthrough opened new avenues for contactless actuators and smart materials. Mamiya’s work has had a profound impact on the fields of stimuli-responsive polymers and micro-robotics, inspiring further research into light-driven systems for applications ranging from artificial muscles to micro-manipulators. His achievements continue to influence students and researchers exploring the intersection of photochemistry, materials science, and biomimetic engineering.