Abstract
A new class of light-responsive viscoelastic fluids based on anionic wormlike micelles is reported. The key components are sodium oleate (NaOA) and a cationic azobenzene dye, 1-[2-(4-phenylazo-phenoxy)-ethyl]-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C0AZOC2IMB). These binary systems are gel-like fluids at certain concentration ratios of [C0AZOC2IMB]/[NaOA], e.g. 35/100, owing to the formation of long, entangled wormlike micelles. The viscosity of these fluids can be controlled reversibly by light due to photo isomerization between trans-C0AZOC2IMB and cis-C0AZOC2IMB. For example, the zero-shear viscosity (η0) of an originally gel-like sample is high up to ∼1300Pas when C0AZOC2IMB is in its trans from, whereas the mixture becomes a Newtonian fluid with η0 about 0.01Pas after UV light irradiation. For the post-irradiated cis-C0AZOC2IMB, short cylindrical micelles form, hence accounting for the lower viscosity. Evidence for the structural transition is provided by UV–vis spectra, rheology, 1H NMR and cryo-transmission electronic microscopy measurements.
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