Fabrication of fluorescent holographic micropatterns based on the rare earth complexes using azobenzene-containing poly(aryl ether)s as macromolecular ligands

Abstract

In this work, on the basis of photoinduced surface relief gratings (SRGs) with the rare earth complexes using azo-polymers as macromolecular ligands, a series of novel materials for fabricating rewritable fluorescent two-dimensional micropatterns, whose color can be easily adjusted by changing the species of the rare earth ions, are demonstrated. The rare earth complexes are prepared using a series of poly(aryl ether)s containing azobenzene chromophores and carboxyl group as macromolecular ligands and 1,10-phenanthroline as co-ligands. The fluorescence properties of the rare earth complexes and the influence of the contents of azobenzene chromophores on the fluorescent intensity are investigated by means of fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy. By exposing the films of the rare earth complexes to an interference pattern laser beam, SRGs can be formed on the films. Under the excitation, fluorescent patterns of the SRGs can be observed by the measurement of fluorescence microscopy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 936–943