Increasingly important photomechanical materials produce stress and mechanical work when illuminated. We propose experimentally accessible performance metrics for photostress and photowork, enabling comparison of materials performance. We relate these metrics to material properties, providing a framework for the design and optimization of photomechanical materials.

• Received 15 February 2021
• Accepted 5 May 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.103.L051002