Search results for "Azobenzene"

Efficient light-induced phase transitions in halogen-bonded liquid crystals

2016

Here, we present a new family of light-responsive, fluorinated supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) showing efficient and reversible light-induced LC-to-isotropic phase transitions. Our materials design is based on fluorinated azobenzenes, where the fluorination serves to strengthen the noncovalent interaction with bond-accepting stilbazole molecules, and increase the lifetime of the cis-form of the azobenzene units. The halogen-bonded LCs were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, hot-stage polarized optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Simultaneous analysis of light-induced changes in birefringence, absorption, and optical scattering allowed us to estimate tha…

Optical suppression of ferroelectricity in polysiloxane copolymers with chiral and photochromic side groups

1998

The ferroelectricity of surface-stabilized aligned films of polysiloxane copolymers containing chiral esters and photochromic azobenzene moieties within the side groups is suppressed on UV irradiation and is rebuilt on visible irradiation. The liquid crystalline polymer (Sc* 64 SA 80 i) shows ferroelectric behavior below 64°C. The photoinduced modification of supramolecular order and the corresponding changes in its dynamics are studied by polarized UV/vis spectroscopy and broad band dielectric spectroscopy (10−2–105 Hz). The dielectric measurements show that UV irradiation causes a loss of ferroelectricity within an interval of 10 K below the phase transition temperature. The photochemical…

A theoretical study of the lowest electronic states of azobenzene: the role of torsion coordinate in the cis-trans photoisomerization

2003

In the present paper we report the results of a multiconigurational computational study on potential- energy curves of azobenzene along the NN twisting to clarify the role of this coordinate in the decay of the S2(pp*) and S1(np*) states. We have found that there is a singlet state, S3 at the trans geometry, on the basis of the doubly excited coniguration n 2 p* 2 , that has a deep minimum at about 90 of twisting, where it is the lowest excited singlet state. The existence of this state provides an explanation for the short lifetime of S2(pp*) and for the wavelength-dependence of azobenzene photochem- istry. We have characterized the S1(np*) state by calcu- lating its vibrational frequencie…

Highlights of metal ion-based photochemical switches

2014

Abstract Selected metal complexes behaving as photochemical switches, mostly operating by light emission/absorption without the intervention of any added chemical species, are reviewed. First, the switching mechanisms are analyzed to offer readers an easier understanding of the described systems. Examples of photochemical switching based on complexation/decomplexation processes and photo-bistable systems, comprising metal complexes with azobenzene, azopyridine, diarylethene, spirocyclic and rhodamine ligands, make the central body of the review. These examples were chosen to provide an overview of the evolution of metal-ion based photochemical switches, collecting together historical cases …

Photochemical behavior in azobenzene having acidic groups. Preparation of magnetic photoresponsive gels

2011

[EN] The photochemistry of three azobenzenes representing contrasting photochemical behaviors is described in the present work. Thus, Methyl Orange (MO, 4-[[(4-dimethylamino)phenyl]-azo]benzenesulfonic acid sodium salt, hereinafter (1) and 4-hydroxyazobenzene-4'-sulfonic acid (2) undergo in water fast photochemical proton shift, with decays in the microsecond timescale. In contrast to the previous cases, azobenzene-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (3) undergoes photoisomerization in water. This photochemical behavior allows the preparation of aqueous gels with Aerosil as gelating agent (5% weight) exhibiting high cyclability and photoreversible isomerization of the trans to cis (300 nm irradiation) a…

1992

The synthesis of a new type of combined polymers containing both disc- and rod-like mesogens is reported. The polyesters, having a triphenylene derivative as a discotic mesogen in the side group and azobenzene or biphenyl derivatives as rod-like mesogens in the main chain were characterized by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray scattering studies. The homopolymer 7 is highly crystalline, while the copolymer 8 is amorphous, both, however, do not form liquid-crystalline phases.

Manipulation of the ferroelectricity in LC polymers via photomechanical isomerization of azobenzene moieties

1996

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new ferroelectric liquid crystalline side chain copolymer containing photoisomerizable chromophores and non-photoisomerizable mesogenic units. On illumination with UV-light a suppression of the polar order is obtained as indicated by a substantial drop of the spontaneous polarization (Ps) compared to the dark state. We interpret this as the phase order being disrupted by the cis-isomer of the chromophore. After illumination with VIS-light only the major part of Ps is restored. The photochemical cis-trans back-isomerization (restoration of the phase) leads to a different stationary state than the dark state of the material. The thermal reisom…

Influence of End Groups on the Stimulus-Responsive Behavior of Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] in Water

2010

The influence of the chemical structure of both end groups onto the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) in water was systematically investigated. POEGMA of Mn = 3550 g/mol and Mw/Mn = 1.14 prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was equipped with two different functional end groups in a one-step postpolymerization reaction combining activated esters, functional amines, and functional methane thiosulfonates. As end groups, n-propyl, n-hexadecyl, di(n-octadecyl), poly(ethylene glycol)-550 (PEG), 1H,1H-perfluorononyl, azobenzene, and trimethylethylammonium groups were system…

Surface-relief gratings in halogen-bonded polymer-azobenzene complexes A concentration-dependence study

2017

In recent years, supramolecular complexes comprising a poly(4-vinylpyridine) backbone and azobenzene-based halogen bond donors have emerged as a promising class of materials for the inscription of light-induced surface-relief gratings (SRGs). The studies up to date have focused on building supramolecular hierarchies, i.e., optimizing the polymer–azobenzene noncovalent interaction for efficient surface patterning. They have been conducted using systems with relatively low azobenzene content, and little is known about the concentration dependence of SRG formation in halogen-bonded polymer–azobenzene complexes. Herein, we bridge this gap, and study the concentration dependence of SRG formation…

Supramolecular hierarchy among halogen and hydrogen bond donors in light-induced surface patterning

2015

Halogen bonding, a noncovalent interaction possessing several unique features compared to the more familiar hydrogen bonding, is emerging as a powerful tool in functional materials design. Herein, we unambiguously show that one of these characteristic features, namely high directionality, renders halogen bonding the interaction of choice when developing azobenzene-containing supramolecular polymers for light-induced surface patterning. The study is conducted by using an extensive library of azobenzene molecules that differ only in terms of the bond-donor unit. We introduce a new tetrafluorophenol-containing azobenzene photoswitch capable of forming strong hydrogen bonds, and show that an io…