Light-activated shape memory in Self-Assembled Azobenzene-Bridged Silsesquioxanes

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

Mar del plata

Congreso; XVI Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros (SLAP 2018); 2018

In recent years, using light to induce shape change has received a lot of attention because light can be controlled both remotely and instantly [1]. Responsive chromophores, such as azobenzene, allow the material to convert light energy into mechanical work because of the transformation between two geometrically different azobenzene isomers upon light irradiation. These changes are attributed to the reversible and repeatable isomerisation of the azobenzene chromophores. Irradiation with UV light converts the thermodynamically more stable trans azobenzene to its less stable cis form. The geometrical and polarity changes that occur through this conversion can be transferred into macroscopic level, when the azo molecules are attached to a polymeric backbone, and affect the whole polymeric matrix properties [2].Here we report the synthesis and self-assembly of a photoactive azobenzene-bridged silsesquioxane displaying various photomechanical, shape memory, and self-healing properties because of the azobenzene molecules.