Photoinduced Reversible Formation of Microfibrils on a Photochromic Diarylethene Microcrystalline Surface

Abstract

Herein, we report a new photoinduced change in surface morphology that provides superhydrophobic properties, obtained by the photoinduced reversible formation of fine fibril structures on coated microcrystalline surfaces. The origin of the reversible formation of fibrils is the photoisomerization of a photochromic diarylethene molecule 1 (see Scheme 1) of a thin film. The reversible changes in surface morphology of a thin film made from photochromic diarylethene 1 were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, and contact angle measurements of a water droplet. The film was prepared by coating a