Epoxy-based azo molecular glasses with four-arm architecture: Preparation,characterization and holographic recording

A series of epoxy-based azo molecular glasses with four-arm architecture was synthesized, characterized and applied to holographic recording.     

含三氟甲基偶氮生色团环氧树脂类聚合物合成和光致表面自结构研究

利用后重氮偶合反应,将4-(三氟甲基)苯胺的重氮盐与两种具有高苯胺残基密度的环氧树脂类前体聚合物在极性有机溶剂中反应,制备了两种具有高生色团密度的环氧树脂类偶氮聚合物PEP-AZ-CF3和PEP-35AZ-CF3.利用1H-NMR、FTIR、UV-Vis和DSC等分析方法对2种偶氮聚合物结构、热性能及吸收光谱性能进行了分析及表征.研究了在不同波长的激光(488、532及589 nm)照射下,2种偶氮聚合物薄膜光致表面自结构的形成.研究结果表明,入射激光的波长对偶氮聚合物表面自结构现象的形成有明显影响.仅在波长488 nm的偏振激光(线偏振光或圆偏振光)照射下,2种偶氮聚合物薄膜表面能观察到自结构现象.圆偏光比线偏光更有利于诱导表面起伏结构的形成,但形成的表面结构不具备长程取向有序性.聚合物生色团中偶氮键邻位的取代甲基对表面自结构的形成起到阻碍作用.     

Photoinduced self-structured surface pattern on a molecular azo glass film: structure-property relationship and wavelength correlation

In this study, three series of star-shaped molecular azo glasses were synthesized, and self-structured surface pattern formation on the azo compound films was studied by laser irradiation at different wavelengths. The molecular azo glasses were synthesized from three core precursors (Tr-AN, Tr-35AN, Tr-H35AN), which were prepared by ring-opening reactions between 1,3,5-triglycidyl isocyanurate and corresponding aniline derivatives. The star-shaped azo compounds were obtained through azo-coupling reactions between the core precursors and diazonium salts of 4-chloroaniline, 4-aminobenzonitrile, and 4-nitroaniline, respectively. By using the two-step reaction scheme, three series of azo compounds with different structures were obtained. The core precursors and azo compounds were characterized by using (1)H NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, mass spectrometry, and thermal analyses. The self-structured surface pattern formation on films of the azo compounds was studied by irradiating the azo compound films with a normal-incident laser beam at different wavelengths (488, 532, and 589 nm). The results show that the photoinduced surface pattern formation behavior is closely related to the structure of the azo compounds, excitation wavelength, and light polarization conditions. The absorption band position of the π-π* transition is mainly determined by the electron-withdrawing groups on the azo chromophores. When the excitation wavelength is between λ(max) and the band tail at the longer wavelength side, the self-structured surface patterns can be more efficiently induced to form on the films. The 3,5-dimethyl substitution on azo chromophores inhibits the surface pattern formation for certain excitation wavelengths. Increasing molecular interaction also shows an effect of restraining the surface pattern formation. The irradiations with linearly and circularly polarized light cause significant differences in the alignment manner of the pillarlike structures and their saturated height.     

官能化度对环氧树脂类偶氮聚合物光致取向的影响

利用光诱导双折射和偏振红外光谱法研究了偶氮官能化度对环氧树脂类偶氮聚合物BP-AZ-CA的光致取向行为的影响,重点研究了偶氮官能化度对偶氮生色团和聚合物主链的光致取向速度及饱和取向程度的影响规律.结果表明,随着偶氮官能化度的增加,偶氮生色团和聚合物主链的光致取向速度均降低,但二者的饱和取向程度增加.体系中氢键相互作用的增强是导致BP-AZ-CA的光致取向行为随偶氮官能化度增加而变化的原因之一.     

Epoxy-based Polymer Containing Imidazole-type Azo Chromophores for Integrated Waveguide Applications

In this work, an epoxy-based polymer containing 2-phenylazo-4, 5-dicyanoimidazole chromophores (BP-IZ-DC) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The polymer showed unusual photo-bleachable property and the refractive index of the polymer could be readily modified by irradiation with a laser beam at visible wavelength. The irradiation with a laser beam at 488 nm caused a much more significant change of the refractive index than irradiation with 532 nm laser light. Upon the irradiation with the laser beam (488 nm, 100 mW/cm²) for 1 h, the refractive index decreased from 1.6512 to 1.5802. By using the photo-bleachable azo polymer, channel waveguide was fabricated by light irradiation through a mask and the light-transmission ability of the waveguide was evaluated.     

Preparation of side‐on bisazobenzene‐containing homopolymers and block copolymers via ATRP and studies on their photoisomerization and photoalignment behaviors

The preparation of a series of novel homopolymers and copolymers containing bisazobenzene chromophores with side‐on structure in the side chains via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were presented. UV–vis spectra of the thin films of these polymers under irradiation of 488 nm Ar⁺ laser suggested that the photoisomerization of the bisazobenzene chromophores happened mainly on one of the two azo groups in the bisazobenzene chromophores with similar probability due to their side‐on structure. Good photoalignment behaviors of these polymers were proved by photoinduced birefringence measurements because side‐on structure permitted the two azo groups in the bisazobenzene chromophores both participated in the trans–cis–trans photoisomerization cycles equally to induce the whole chromophore reorientation. Furthermore, the reorientation axis located at the middle of chromophore decreased the sweep volume during photoalignment. The impetus for this study was to evaluate the photoisomerization and photoalignment process of side‐on bisazobenzene‐containing polymers and to find possible applications in the photosensitive devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3460–3472, 2007     

含双偶氮生色团的环氧树脂类聚合物的合成与表征

通过重氮偶合反应制备了含氨基取代基的假芪型偶氮小分子,并将其再配制成重氮盐,在极性溶剂中与含苯胺残基的环氧前体聚合物进行重氮偶合反应,制备了3种含双偶氮生色团的环氧树脂基聚合物BP-2A-35-CN、BP-2A-35-NT和BP-2A-35-2NT.利用仪器分析手段对其结构和热性能进行了表征;采用干涉激光辐照的方法,研究了不同取代基团对聚合物的光致表面起伏光栅形成过程的影响.研究结果表明,在相同光照条件下,BP-2A-35-CN和BP-2A-35-NT膜表面可形成正弦波形起伏光栅,但BP-2A-35-2NT膜表面无法形成明显的起伏结构.     

含噻唑偶氮苯生色团环氧树脂类聚合物的合成与表征

合成了2-氨基-4-氯-5-甲酰基噻唑和2-氨基-4-氯-5-二氰乙烯基噻唑.分别将其与亚硝酰硫酸反应配制成重氮盐,通过在极性溶剂中与含苯胺残基的环氧树脂类前体聚合物BP-AN进行重氮偶合反应,得到了两种含噻唑偶氮苯生色团的环氧树脂类聚合物BP-1A-T-F和BP-1A-T-2CN.利用仪器分析手段对其结构、光谱特性和热性能进行了表征,BP-1A-T-F和BP-1A-T-2CN的最大吸收波长分别为579nm和650nm;玻璃化转变温度152℃和149℃.     

Methacrylic azopolymers for holographic storage: A comparison among different polymer types

The photoinduced anisotropy and volume holographic storage in a series of polymers with different architectures and azo contents of 7% and 20% in weight have been investigated. Measurements of the birefringence (Δn) induced with linearly polarised 488 nm light show that for polymers with an azo content of 20%, the highest and more stable Δn values are achieved in copolymers with a di-block architecture. The Δn induced in polymers with 7 wt% azo content is not stable. Volume holographic polarisation gratings have been stored in the polymers. Only in the case of the di-block copolymer with an azo content of 20% in weight, the stored gratings are stable. A diffraction efficiency higher than 90% and an angular selectivity of 4° have been achieved in gratings with a period of 2 μm. It can be concluded that the di-block copolymer with 20 wt% azo content is the most suitable, among the studied copolymers, as volume holographic storage material.     

表面起伏光栅形成速率的影响规律Ⅱ.偶氮生色团上甲基取代基的影响

设计并合成了偶氮生色团上含有不同数目甲基取代基的环氧树脂类偶氮高分子 .研究了偶氮生色团上甲基取代对表面起伏光栅形成速率的影响规律 .实验结果表明 ,在偶氮生色团上引入甲基取代基使光栅形成的速率明显减慢 ,引入甲基数目越多 ,光栅形成速率就越慢 .     

Bragg-type polarization gratings formed in thick polymer films containing azobenzene and tolane moieties

Holographic gratings were formed in thick polymer films containing azobenzene and diphenylacetylene (tolane) moieties in the Bragg regime. Amorphous polymers containing various contents of the azobenzene moiety with photosensitivity and the tolane moiety with large birefringence in the side chain were synthesized, and optically transparent thick polymer films were prepared. The films were irradiated with a linearly polarized beam from an Ar+ laser (488 nm), and the transmittance of a He-Ne laser beam (633 nm) through a pair of crossed polarizers, with the film between them, was measured to estimate a photoinduced birefringence (deltan). The value of deltan increased with an increase in the tolane moiety content in the polymer films. When two linearly polarized beams at 488 nm were interfered in the film, a diffraction beam was observed, and the maximum diffraction efficiency (eta) increased with the tolane moiety content. In the film containing 70 mol% of the tolane moiety, the highest eta of 99% was achieved, and angular selectivity due to Bragg diffraction was clearly observed. We consider the cooperative molecular motion of the tolane moieties to be induced by the photoinduced change in alignment of the azobenzene moieties even if the polymers show no liquid-crystalline phase. When two orthogonal circularly polarized beams were allowed to interfere in the film, a Bragg-type polarization grating was formed. It was found that the value of eta reached 90% within 920 ms.     

Photoresponding ionic complex containing azobenzene chromophore for use in birefringent flm简

A novel photoresponding ionic complex （PANDAZO） was prepared by the ionic self-assembly （1SA） of sodium polyacrylate （PANa） and azobenzene chromophores （NDAZO）. The ionic complex forms an interdigitated lamellar structure with full overlap of the side chains. The optical anisotropy was investigated by using a polarization pulse laser （355 nm）. Furthermore, a high photoinduced birefringence （An = 0.365） was measured by using a continuous 488 nm laser as the pump light.     

Surface-relief-grating formation behavior of two hyperbranched azo polymers

In this work,surface-relief-grating formation behavior was studied by using two hyperbranched azo polymers.The hyperbranched polymers containing pseudo-stilbene type azo chromophores throughout the hyperbranched structure were synthesized by step-growth polycondensation of AB₂ type monomers.The AB₂ monomer,4-（4’-（bis（2-chloroethyl）amino）-phenylazo） benzoic acid（BAA）,was prepared through azo-coupling reaction between N,N’-bis（2-chloroethyl）aniline and 4- aminobenzenic acid.The another AB₂ monomer,4-（4’-（bis（2-chloroethyl）amino）phenylazo）-3-nitro-benzoic acid（BANA）, was prepared through azo-coupling reaction between N,N-bis（2-chloroethyl）aniline and 3-nitro-4-aminobenzcnic acid.The hyperbranched polymers（PBAA and PBANA） were prepared through nucleophilic substitution reaction of BAA and BANA, respectively.The polymers synthesized were characterized by using spectroscopic methods and thermal analysis.The photoinduced dichroism and photo-induced surface-relief-grating（SRG） formation of the hyperbranched polymers were investigated upon irradiation with Ar⁺ laser at 488 nm.PBAA shows typical photoinduced dichroism SRG formation behavior.On the contrary,PBANA does not show the photoresponsive properties.The results indicate that the nitro at the ortho position of azo group of PBANA shows the effect of inhibiting the photoinduced variations.The effect can be attributed to the blockage of the trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moieties by the steric hindrance.     

Photoinduced optical anisotropy in azobenzene methacrylate block copolymers: Influence of molecular weight and irradiation conditions

The photoinduced anisotropy in a series of azomethacrylate block copolymers with different molecular weights and azo contents has been investigated under several irradiation conditions. Depending on molecular weight and composition, different microstructures (disordered, lamellar, spherical) appear, due to block microsegregation. Measurements of birefringence (Δn) induced with linearly polarised 488 nm light show that the highest (and stable) Δn_N values (birefringence normalised to the azo content) are achieved in copolymers with a lamellar structure. Lower Δn_N are obtained in the copolymers in which azobenzene units segregate to nano spheres and the lowest (and less stable) Δn_N values, appear in disordered systems not showing any defined microstructure. Besides, higher Δn_N is obtained in the copolymers with larger molecular weight of the poly (methyl methacrylate) and the azo polymer blocks, both in the microspheres segregated polymers as well as in those without a clear microstructure. This behaviour is consistent with that of the photoinduced order of azobenzene units obtained from dichroism measurements. Irradiation temperature (from 30 to 90 °C) and light power (from 100 to 500 mW/cm²) also influence the photoinduced response. Photoinduced Δn_N growth rate is faster when both temperature and irradiation power increase. Furthermore, birefringence is only induced at temperatures up to 90 °C, the maximum value being obtained at about 70 °C. No clear dependence of the final Δn_N value with light power has been found.     

Effect of crosslinking on the photoinduced orientation of azo groups in thin polymer films

A series of amorphous copolymers containing disperse red 1 and crosslinkable acrylic groups were prepared. The crosslinked polymers were prepared in thin films by thermal polymerization of the acrylic groups in the copolymers. The orientation induced by irradiation with a linearly polarized laser was measured as birefringence at several temperatures, and the effect of crosslinking on the photoinduced orientation was investigated. Crosslinking enhanced the stability of the photoinduced birefringence. In particular, crosslinking helped to maintain the birefringence both at high temperatures and after the linearly polarized laser was turned off. The birefringence dynamics was analyzed with biexponential curve fitting. Crosslinking influenced not only the birefringence levels but also its rate of growth. The growth rate of the photoinduced birefringence decreased by crosslinking, whereas the relaxation was not significantly affected. Although crosslinking restrained the mobility of the azo chromophores, a certain fraction could orient or move randomly even in highly crosslinked polymer networks. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1686–1696, 2001     

重氮偶合方法合成主链型光响应偶氮聚合物

提出了一种利用重氮偶合方法合成主链偶氮聚合物的新方法,合成了一种主链含有假芪型偶氮生色团的聚合物.对合成聚合物的结构、热性能以及光响应性能进行了详细表征.在线偏振激光的作用下,聚合物膜中的偶氮苯生色团发生光致取向,用偏振紫外-可见光光谱测量了此聚合物膜的二向色性,得到聚合物膜的取向有序度为0.03.用波长为488 nm,能量密度为150 mW/cm2的相干Ar+激光对聚合物膜照射1000 s,得到形貌规整的正弦波形表面起伏光栅,光栅的周期为900 nm,起伏深度为89 nm.     

Unusual photo-induced behaviour in a side chain liquid crystalline azo-polyester

An unusual behaviour has been observed in the photo-induced response of an azobenzene side chain liquid crystalline polyester (P6d4). Room temperature irradiation with linearly polarised 488 nm light does not induce any birefringence (Δn) in films of this polymer that have been quenched from the isotropic state. However, using the same irradiation conditions Δn is induced in quenched films that have been kept in darkness for a few minutes. Besides, no photo-induced Δn is observed in films irradiated with 488 nm light that have been previously irradiated with UV light. In this case, Δn can be recorded if the UV irradiated films have been kept in darkness for several hours. In another set of experiments performed with the P6d4 polymer, irradiation with high intensity linearly polarised 488 nm light induces an initial increase of Δn and then it goes back to zero. Subsequent irradiation with linearly polarised 633 nm light induces an orientation of the azobenzene chromophores perpendicular to the polarisation of the 488 nm light and independent of the 633 nm light polarisation direction. These results are very different from those obtained in other side chain polyesters which only differ from P6d4 in the end substituent. The anomalous behaviour of P6d4 is discussed in terms of a supercooling effect of the isotropic phase, the trans to cis back isomerization, the trans aggregation kinetics and a memory effect associated with the main chain orientation.     

Influence of chromophore concentration and network structure on the photo‐orientation properties of crosslinked epoxy‐based azopolymers

An azo prepolymer (TAZ) was synthesized by reaction between Disperse Orange‐3 (DO3) and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Selected amounts of TAZ were blended with DGEBA and cured with an aliphatic diamine, either meta‐xilylenediamine (MXDA) or polyetheramines (Jeffamine D series). The photoinduced anisotropy and optical storage properties in two series of crosslinked epoxy‐based azo polymers with different architectures and chromophore contents (from 3 to 24 in weight) have been investigated. Measurements of the birefringence (Δn) induced with linearly polarized 488 nm light show that the Δn values increases with DO3 weight fraction. Networks with the same chromophore concentration but different backbones exhibit similar levels of induced anisotropy under the same irradiation conditions. The remaining birefringence and relaxation times are influenced by the molecular weight between crosslinks of networks. Higher is reflected in shorter relaxation times and lower remaining birefringence. In terms of the level of induced dichroism measured on relaxed films, it was found an agreement with the remaining anisotropy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1004–1014, 2009     

Stretching effect of linearly polarized Ar+ laser single-beam on azo polymer colloidal spheres

This work shows that a linearly polarized Ar+ laser single-beam irradiation can cause stretching deformation of azo polymer colloidal spheres along the polarization direction of the laser beam. An epoxy-based polymer, containing 4-amino-4'-carboxyazobenzene at each repeat unit, was used to construct the colloidal spheres. The colloidal spheres were prepared by gradual hydrophobic aggregation of the polymeric chains in a THF/H2O dispersion medium, which was induced by a steady increase in the water content. When the obtained colloidal spheres were exposed to the spatially filtered and collimated Ar+ laser beam (488 nm, 150 mW/cm2), the colloids were stretched along the polarization direction of the laser beam. In the testing period (20 min), the colloids were deformed continuously as the irradiation time increased. When 2D close-packed arrays of the colloidal spheres were irradiated by the polarized laser single-beam, the colloidal spheres were all uniformly stretched along the polarization direction of the laser beam. On the contrary, when the arrays were irradiated by the interfering p-polarized laser beams, only the colloidal spheres in the bright regions of the interference pattern were significantly deformed.