Polymer Film with Optically Controlled Form and Actuation (Preprint)

摘要

Polymer networks containing azobenzene liquid-crystalline (azo LC) moieties are capable of changing their macroscopic shape when influenced by light. Two distinct processes take place in azo LCs due to the photoisomerization of the azobenzene chromophores. Trans-cis isomerization and thus a reduced order parameter is dominant at UV wavelengths whereas trans-cis- trans isomerization processes are dominant at visible wavelengths resulting in orientation of the molecules perpendicular to the beam polarization.