Anisotropic Molecular Orientation of Poly [4, 4'-oxydiphenylene- 1, 2, 3, 4-cyclobutanetetracarboximide] Films Irradiated by Linearly Polarized UV Light

Abstract

We have investigated the anisotropic molecular orientation of poly [4, 4'-oxydiphenylene-1, 2, 3, 4-cyclobutanetetracarboximide] (CBDA-ODA) films induced by irradiation with linearly polarized ultraviolet light (LPUVL). The molecular orientation was monitored by measuring the polarized infrared (IR) absorption spectra of a 10-nm-thick film. The anisotropy of the molecular orientation exceeded that of a rubbed film with the same film thickness. From the LPUVL exposure dependence of IR absorption we found that preferential cleavage occurs to the cyclobutane ring in the polyimide backbone structure oriented parallel to the polarization direction of LPUVL. Then the orientation of the cleaved polyimide molecule is randomized. We conclude that the large anisotropy of the LPUVL-exposed film is caused by the anisotropic cleavage of the cyclobutane rings and the orientational randomization of the cleaved polyimide molecules.