Light-Orchestrated Macromolecular "Accordions": Reversible Photoinduced Shrinking of Rigid-Rod Polymers

Light can play: Irradiation causes dramatic changes in the shape of rigid‐rod polymers incorporating azobenzene photochromes in the main chain. The embedded photoswitches act as hinges, which upon light‐induced isomerization lead to reversible shrinking and stretching of the polymer backbone (see sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2011-12, Vol.50 (52), p.12559-12563
Main Authors: Bléger, David, Liebig, Tobias, Thiermann, Raphael, Maskos, Michael, Rabe, Jürgen P., Hecht, Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aggregation
azo compounds
Backbone
Chains (polymeric)
Hinges
Irradiation
Isomerization
Light
Macromolecular Substances - chemistry
nanostructures
Photochemical Processes
photochromism
Polymers
Polymers - chemistry
Stretching
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Summary:Light can play: Irradiation causes dramatic changes in the shape of rigid‐rod polymers incorporating azobenzene photochromes in the main chain. The embedded photoswitches act as hinges, which upon light‐induced isomerization lead to reversible shrinking and stretching of the polymer backbone (see scheme), resembling light‐orchestrated macromolecular accordions.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.201106879