Azo Networks for Reversible Optical Storage

FERNÁNDEZ, R.; SAIZ, L.; OROFINO, A.; RUZZO, M.; MONDRAGÓN, I.; GALANTE, M. J.; OYANGUREN, P. A.

Lima

Simposio; XI Simposio Latinoamericano y IX Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros; 2008

Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru - PUCP

Recently, there has been a growing focus on the study and application of photo-responsive polymers containing azobenzene moieties because of their promising and diversified applicability in optical data storage, optical switching and optoelectronics. Materials that are suitable in the area of reversible optical storage are required to display a high thermal and mechanical stability as well as photostability. It is well known that epoxy networks are highly transparent and have excellent mechanical and thermal properties. There are only a few investigations on epoxy resins asphotoaddressable polymers. The question as far as applications in the area of optical storage are concerned arises if a stable photoorientation can be induced in the polymeric form of the material and if the cross-links have any influence on the photokinetics of the light-induced process.In this study, the photoorientation induced via irradiation with linearly polarized light is compared for various cross-linked epoxy-based azopolymers, with the chromophore placed in a branch, also called cross-linked side-chain.