Photomechanical response observed for azobenzene-based photochromic amorphous molecular films fabricated on the surface of agar gel

摘要

As a novel photomechanical behavior, structural changes of azobenzene-based photochromic amorphous molecular films fabricated on the surface of soft materials such as agar gel were found upon irradiation with linearly polarized laser beam. The present photomechanical behavior included two-stage processes, striped pattern formation in the direction perpendicular to the polarization direction of the incident beam and subsequent band-like structure formation aligned in the direction parallel to the polarization direction. Both glass-transition temperature of the photochromic materials and the viscosity of the underlying layers were suggested to be important factors for exhibiting the present photomechanical behavior.