Photoresponsive polymers with multi-azobenzene groups

Azobenzene is a switchable compound that exhibits reversible trans - cis photoisomerization. Photoresponsive polymers have been prepared by incorporating azobenzene groups into polymers. Most of the reported azobenzene-containing polymers (azopolymers) have only one azobenzene group in the repeat un...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer chemistry 2019-08, Vol.1 (32), p.4389-441
Main Authors: Sun, Shaodong, Liang, Shuofeng, Xu, Wen-Cong, Xu, Guofeng, Wu, Si
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birefringence
Polymer chemistry
Polymers
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Summary:Azobenzene is a switchable compound that exhibits reversible trans - cis photoisomerization. Photoresponsive polymers have been prepared by incorporating azobenzene groups into polymers. Most of the reported azobenzene-containing polymers (azopolymers) have only one azobenzene group in the repeat unit of the polymers (mono-azopolymers). To improve photoresponsiveness, multi-azobenzene groups have been covalently or non-covalently introduced into the repeat units of azopolymers (multi-azopolymers). In this Perspective, we introduce photoresponsive multi-azopolymers. We summarize the preparation of such polymers and highlight their potential applications in photoactuation, photo-patterning, and photoinduced birefringence. The innovative potential, open questions, and remaining challenges in this field are also discussed. Photoresponsive polymers with multi-azobenzene groups are reviewed and their potential applications in photoactuation, photo-patterning, and photoinduced birefringence are introduced.
ISSN:1759-9954
1759-9962
DOI:10.1039/c9py00793h