Azobenzene-containing polymer network films with effective light-induced mass transport

PAULA AINCHIL; LUCIANA SAIZ; GUSTAVO, ARENAS; ILEANA A. ZUCCHI; PATRICIA A. OYANGUREN; MARÍA J. GALANTE

Chiang Mai

Congreso; IUPAC World Polymer Congress Macro 2014; 2014

IUPAC

Azobenzene-containing film forming materials have been well known for the photoinduction of optical anisotropy and generation of surface relief gratings (SRG). SRG formation is generally referred to the appearance of sinusoidal surface patterns on azo polymer films upon irradiation with interfering laser beams. The sinusoidal patterns are caused by the mass-migration on azo polymer film surfaces, where the photoinduced trans-cis isomerization of azo chromophores plays a critically important role. The surface patterns with modulated depth in submicrometer scale can be formed on azo polymer films at a temperature well below the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of the polymers. In this work, photoinduced surface patterns were inscribed onto azo-containing polyurethane-epoxy networks. The selected chromophore was Disperse Red 19, a push?pull azo dye bearing two OH functionalities. Different networks were synthesized in the form of films and they were exposed to an interference pattern of the laser beams. Efficiency of SRG formation and its correlation with irradiation time, irradiation power, incidence angle and polarization were studied.