Abstract
For the advancement in multi-stimuli responsive optical devices, we report the elaborate molecular engineering of the dual photo-functionalized amphiphile (abbreviated as AZ1DA) containing both a photo-isomerizable azobenzene and a photo-polymerizable diacetylene. To achieve the efficient photochemical reactions in thin solid films, the self-assembly of AZ1DA molecules into the ordered phases should be precisely controlled and efficiently utilized. First, the remote-controllable light shutter is successfully demonstrated based on the reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization of azobenzene group in the smectic A mesophase. Second, the self-organized monoclinic crystal phase allows us to validate the photo-polymerization of diacetylene moiety for the photo-patterned thin films and the thermo-responsible color switches. From the demonstrations of optically tunable thin films, it is realized that the construction of strong relationships between chemical structures, molecular packing structures and physical properties of the programmed molecules is the core research for the development of smart and multifunctional soft materials.
Highlights
Since the physical properties of soft materials strongly depend on their molecular conformations and organizations, understanding the intermolecular physical bonds between the chemically connected building blocks is an essential prerequisite to manipulate the well-defined molecular architectures[1,2]
After studying the ordered molecular arrangements of AZ1DA with the combined techniques of thermal, microscopic, scattering, and simulation, the photochemical isomerization and the topochemical polymerization of AZ1DA are investigated for the demonstration of remote-controllable light shutter, photo-patterned thin film, and thermo-responsive color switch
To develop the optically tunable multifunctional thin films, we report the programmed asymmetric amphiphile with photo-isomerizable azobenzene group and the photo-polymerizable diacetylene moiety
Summary
Since the physical properties of soft materials strongly depend on their molecular conformations and organizations, understanding the intermolecular physical bonds between the chemically connected building blocks is an essential prerequisite to manipulate the well-defined molecular architectures[1,2]. With the azobenzene-functionalized amphiphiles, the formation and deformation of self-assembled hierarchical superstructures can be modulated by the photochemical isomerization upon irradiating the 365 nm UV and 450 nm Vis lights[15]. The manipulation of hierarchical superstructures with the fine control of intermolecular interactions between the programmed molecular building blocks are very important to achieve the targeted properties of soft materials[23,24,25]. Introducing the photo-responsive groups into the AZ1DA is the second strategy for the molecular programming for the photochemical isomerization and the topochemical polymerization. After studying the ordered molecular arrangements of AZ1DA with the combined techniques of thermal, microscopic, scattering, and simulation, the photochemical isomerization and the topochemical polymerization of AZ1DA are investigated for the demonstration of remote-controllable light shutter, photo-patterned thin film, and thermo-responsive color switch
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