The effect of light intensity,film thickness,and monomer composition in styrene-based bioinspired polymers

Abstract

The effect of irradiation light intensity, film thickness, and polymer composition upon photo-irradiation of water-soluble polymers containing thymine was studied by ultraviolet (UV)-vis spectroscopy. Coatings of aqueous solution of the polymer on PET substrates were exposed to UV light at 254 nm through a standard mask. The effect of irradiation dose is similar to the typical behavior of photo-resists: the degree of crosslink increases over the time until it reaches saturation. The polymer composition effect shows an expected trend on the curing process, the more vinylbenzylthymine (VBT) content in the copolymer the higher the degree of crosslinking, a situation that agrees with the fact the VBT is the monomer playing the main role in the photo-reaction. It was observed that the effect of film thickness was as expected, the thicker the film the slower the immobilization of the polymer on the substrate. It was demonstrated that by varying these parameters one could control the crosslinking rate of the polymer.     

Preparation and characteristics of photocrosslinkable hydrophilic polymer having cinnamate moiety

The reaction of copolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and bromoethyl methacrylate with potassium cinnamate produced water-soluble photosensitive polymers. Photosensitive polyDMAA films were irradiated with a 400 W high-pressure mercury lamp (λ > 280 nm) to produce crosslinked polymers, which were swollen in water. The degree of swelling was controlled by the irradiation time and content of cinnamate moieties in copolymers. Higher cinnamoylation and longer irradiation time resulted in higher yield of crosslinked polymers and less swellability. Partial degelation upon irradiation at λ ～ 254 nm was observed. The advantage of gelation via photodimerization over conventional chemical crosslinking methods is discussed in conjunction with biomedical applications. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Spectroscopic observations on photofading and fluorescence changes of eosin Y solutions in the presence of sodium azide

Eosin Y solutions exposed to illumination with visible light showed a decreased absorption at 513 nm with increasing irradiation time. In the presence of the singlet oxygen quencher sodium azide, photofading at 513 nm was somewhat lower and a new and small absorption band at 420 nm was observed. Eosin Y fluorescence at 538 nm also decreased with illumination, while a new emission peak appeared at 478 nm. The presence of sodium azide largely increased the photoinduced emission at 478 nm.     

Photocontrol of supramolecular architecture in azopolymers: Achiral and chiral aggregation

The absorption spectra and circular dichroism responses upon irradiation with 488 nm circularly polarized light (CPL) have been studied on polymeric films processed from two nematic copolymers containing azobenzene chromophores. Influence of the aggregation and orientation of azobenzenes on the photoinduced chiroptical properties has been analyzed. Moreover, polymeric films and 4 μm planar cells filled with the copolymers were studied by polarized optical microscopy (POM) with the aim of investigating the change of macroscopic optical properties and textures of azopolymers upon irradiation with CPL.     

Photoresponsive polymers and block copolymers by molecular recognition based on multiple hydrogen bonds

A new methacrylate containing a 2,6‐diacylaminopyridine (DAP) group was synthesized and polymerized via RAFT polymerization to prepare homopolymethacrylates (PDAP) and diblock copolymers combined with a poly(methyl methacrylate) block (PMMA‐b‐PDAP). These polymers can be easily complexed with azobenzene chromophores having thymine (tAZO) or carboxylic groups with a dendritic structure (dAZO), which can form either three or two hydrogen bonds with the DAP groups, respectively. The supramolecular polymers were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, optical microscopy, TGA, and DSC. The supramolecular polymers and block copolymers with dAZO exhibited mesomorphic properties meanwhile with tAZO are amorphous materials. The response of the supramolecular polymers to irradiation with linearly polarized light was also investigated founding that stable optical anisotropy can be photoinduced in all the materials although higher values of birefringence and dichroism were obtained in polymers containing the dendrimeric chromophore dAZO. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3173–3184     

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     

Photo-orientation phenomena in photosensitive chiral nematic copolymers

Photo-orientational phenomena have been studied for two comb-shaped cholesteric copolyacrylates containing azobenzene side groups. Copolymer^I contains nematogenic phenyl benzoate groups and photosensitive chiral menthyl-containing azobenzene side groups. Copolymer^II is composed of nematogenic phenyl benzoate groups, photosensitive cyanoazobenzene groups and chiral photochromic benzylidene-^p-methan-3-one fragments. Under the action of polarized Ar⁺ laser light (488 nm), orientation of the side groups of the copolymers takes place, and this orientation is perpendicular to the vector of the electric field of the incident light. This process shows a co-operative character; that is, it involves both photosensitive azobenzene and phenyl benzoate groups. The kinetics of growth of the photoinduced orientational order parameter were studied as a function of film thickness, incident light intensity, and preliminary UV irradiation. For the planar oriented films of the copolymers, irradiation with polarized light leads to the development of photoinduced birefringence Δⁿ; maximum values of Δⁿ reach 0.01. The photo-optical properties of copolymers^I and ^II are compared. Such materials may be used for 'dual' data recording by varying the helix pitch, selective light reflection maximum, and photoinduced birefringence or linear dichroism.     

Preparation by controlled radical polymerization and self‐assembly via base‐recognition of synthetic polymers bearing complementary nucleobases

The radical polymerization of three monomers bearing nucleobases 1‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)thymine (VBT), 1‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)uracil (VBU) and 9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)adenine (VBA) was investigated. The corresponding homopolymers could be prepared in high yields via conventional radical polymerization. However, the resulting polymers were found to be only soluble in a few polar solvents. On the other hand, copolymers of dodecyl methacrylate (DMA) with either VBT or VBA could be prepared via both free radical polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization and could be dissolved in a large variety of organic solvents. Moreover, the formed complementary copolymers P(VBT‐co‐DMA) and P(VBA‐co‐DMA) were found to self‐assemble in dilute solutions in dioxane or chloroform via base recognition, as evidenced by a significant hypochromicity effect in UV spectroscopy. Nevertheless, at higher concentrations in chloroform, both dynamic light scattering and optical microscopy indicate that P(VBT‐co‐DMA), P(VBA‐co‐DMA), or P(VBT‐co‐DMA)/P(VBA‐co‐DMA) mixtures spontaneously self‐assemble into micron size spherical aggregates. ¹H NMR and FTIR studies confirmed that the self‐assembly process is driven in all cases via H‐bond formation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4805–4818, 2005     

Synthesis and Self-Association of Stimuli-Responsive Diblock Copolymers by Living Cationic Polymerization

The living cationic polymerization of several functional monomers in the presence of an added base is investigated as a possible preparation of a new series of water-soluble or stimuli-responsive copolymers. Under appropriate conditions, the polymerization allows the selective preparation of polymers with various shapes and different sequence distributions of monomer units, including stimuli-responsive block copolymers, gradient copolymers, poly(vinyl alcohol) graft copolymers, and star-shaped polymers. The stimuli-induced self-association of the diblock copolymers is also examined. An aqueous solution of the diblock copolymer with a thermo-sensitive segment undergoes rapid physical gelation upon warming to the critical temperature to give a transparent gel, and returns sensitively to the solution state upon cooling. The sharp transition of stimuli-responsive segments with highly controlled primary structure turns out to play an important role in the self-association. Small-angle neutron scattering, dynamic light scattering, and electron microscopy studies reveal that the physical gelation involves a thermosensitive micellization of diblock copolymers (core size: 18-20 nm) and subsequent micelle macrolattice formation (bcc symmetry). Based on the gelation mechanism, several stimuli-responsive gelation systems are achieved using other stimuli such as the addition of a selective solvent or compound, cooling, pH change, and irradiation with ultraviolet light.     

Synthesis of “bioinspired” copolymers: experimental and theoretical investigation on poly(vinyl benzyl thymine-co-triethyl ammonium chloride)

Abstract

“Bioinspired” copolymers based on vinylbenzyl thymine (VBT) and an ionically-charged monomer, such as vinylbenzyl triethylammonium chloride (VBA), were synthesized and theoretically investigated. These water-soluble copolymers are polystyrene- (PS) based, and their structure mimics DNA. In the presence of short-wavelength UV light, the thymine groups dimerize into non-toxic, environmentally benign, and biodegradable photo-resistant materials. Copolymerizations with different comonomer ratios were carried out at 65°C. Samples were taken along the reactions to determine monomer conversion, chemical composition, and molecular weight distribution. While average molecular weights fall along the reaction, the average composition remains almost constant and coincident with the initial comonomer ratios, thus indicating a similar reactivity of all the comonomer radicals. A mathematical model was developed that simulates the synthesis of the base biopolymer, in the sense of predicting the evolution of the global reaction variables and molecular structure of the polymer. The termination and propagation kinetic constants were adjusted to the experimental data. The resulting values are quite different to those of a normal styrene homopolymerization, thus suggesting a noticeable effect of the solvent and the comonomer pending groups.     

Photoinduced chirality in achiral liquid crystalline azobenzene polymers containing different polar side groups

Circular dichroism (CD) was induced in the films of two achiral liquid crystalline polymers, poly[(4′-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyl)oxy)-(4-X)azobenzene] (PM6X, X = C and N for cyano and nitro, respectively), by irradiation with one handed circularly polarized light (CPL) at 442 nm. The CD and UV spectra of the polymeric films suggest that left-CPL induces a left helical structure and right-CPL reverses the resulting structure into a right helix. For PM6C, the photoinduced CD values of the nematic film are much higher than in the casting and isotropic film. The photoinduced chirality of PM6C films is higher than PM6N due to a higher polarity of nitro groups in PM6N. The PM6N’s CD intensity around 450 nm is increased with the irradiation time of linearly polarized light (LPL) followed by left-CPL irradiation. The correlation between azobenzene chromophores and circularly polarized light will be discussed in the paper.     

Cationic dye-sensitized degradation of sodium hyaluronate through photoinduced electron transfer in the upper excited state

The formation of ground-state complexes of methylene blue (MB) and thionine (TN) with sodium hyaluronate (NaHA) was clearly observed by means of absorption spectra in aqueous solution. Irradiation of the complexes using 313 nm light caused significant degradation of NaHA under oxygen and argon. However, the use of visible light over 400 nm, which gives the lowest excited singlet state of the cationic dyes, caused no degradation. MB and TN were more efficient sensitizers for the degradation of NaHA than rose bengal (RB), although RB is a more efficient singlet oxygen (1O2) sensitizer than the cationic dyes. Under similar conditions the polysaccharides with carboxyl groups, such as alginic acid and polygalacturonic acid, also photodecomposed. However, the polysaccharides without carboxyl groups, such as pullulan and methyl cellulose, did not. The irradiation of the polysaccharides in the presence of powdered titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst to generate the hydroxyl radical (.OH) in aerated aqueous solution caused the fragmentation of all the polymers. It was confirmed that methyl viologen, an electron-accepting sensitizer, formed a charge-transfer complex with NaHA, the irradiation of which caused the efficient degradation of NaHA. In the presence of beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins the MB- and TN-sensitized photodegradation of NaHA was markedly suppressed. This was probably due to the formation of the inclusion complexes comprising the cationic dyes and the cyclodextrins. On the basis of the results obtained we propose that the cationic dye-sensitized degradation of NaHA involves a photoinduced electron-transfer process between the upper excited dyes and the ground-state NaHA and that .OH and 1O2 do not participate in the degradation.     

Photoelectrochemical kinetics of eosin y-sensitized zinc oxide films investigated by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Eosin Y is used as a sensitizer for nanoporous zinc oxide films for prospective applications in photoelectrochemical solar cells. The kinetics of the reduction of the intermittently formed photo-oxidized dye molecules by iodide ions in the electrolyte phase was investigated by using the feedback mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The bulk solution phase contained triiodide as electron transfer mediator, from which the ultramicroelectrode-generated iodide ions acted as electron donors for photo-oxidized Eosin Y molecules (D(+) (ads)) at the zinc oxide sample. Effective rate constants for the dye regeneration could be extracted from the SECM approach curves. The effective rate constants at different triiodide concentrations could be related to the rate constant for the reaction of the dissolved donor with photo-oxidized Eosin Y bound to ZnO, as well as to the overall rate of the photosensitization process. For the reaction D(+) (ads) + 1.5 I(-)-->D(ads) + 0.5 I(3) (-) a rate constant of k(ox) = (1.4+/-0.8)x10(8) cm(9/2) mol(-3/2) s(-1) was determined.     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of optically active polymer liquid crystals containing azobenzene chromophores

A series of optically active methacrylic homopolymers, poly[(4‐{4′‐[(S)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butyloxycarbonyl]phenylazo}phenoxyl)x‐methylene methacrylate] (x = 0, 2, 6, or 11), were synthesized. The structures of the polymers were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, UV, differential scanning calorimetry, and gel permeation chromatography. The chiroptical properties of the polymers in films were investigated with circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The CD and UV spectra of the films suggested that CD absorptions occurred in the films of the polymers with long spacers (x = 6 or 11) but not in the films of the polymers with short spacers (x = 0 or 2). After irradiation with linearly polarized light at 442 nm, the CD values were amplified in all the polymeric films. The amplificatory values of the CD bands in the absorption region (260–360 nm) of azobenzene chromophores suggested that the spacer length had an effect on both the transfer of chirality and photoinduced chirality in the polymeric films. The largest level of photoinduced chirality was induced in the polymer containing six methylene units. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3210–3219, 2006     

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     

Epoxy-based azo polymers with high chromophore density: Synthesis,characterization and photoinduced birefringence

Three epoxy-based azo polymers(PEP-AZ-Cl,PEP-AZ-CN and PEP-AZ-NT) with high chromophore density were synthesized by using post-polymerization azo-coupling reactions between epoxy-based precursor polymer(PEP-AN) and diazonium salts of 4-chloroaniline,4-aminobenzonitrile and 4-nitroaniline,respectively.The structures and properties of the azo polymers were characterized by using ~1H-NMR,FT-IR,UV-Vis and thermal analyses.The photoinduced birefringence of the azo polymers was studied by irradiating spin-coated films of the polymers with laser beam at three different wavelengths(488,532,and 589 nm).The results indicate that the photoinduced birefringence of the azo polymers is related with the electron-withdrawing group on azo chromophores and the excitation wavelength.The excitation wavelength that can cause the efficient responses is determined by the absorption band positions of the azo chromophores,which are mainly affected by the electron-withdrawing group on the chromophores.Therefore,the azo polymers containing chromophores with different electron-withdrawing groups show different responsive behavior to the irradiation light at different wavelengths.When irradiated with 488 nm light,PEP-AZ-Cl shows the shortest time to reach the saturated birefringence but with the lowest saturation birefringence level compared with the other two azo polymers.When irradiated with 532 nm light,PEP-AZ-CN shows the shortest time to reach the saturated birefringence.When irradiated with 532 and 589 nm light,PEP-AZ-NT shows the highest saturation birefringence level.     

Alternating oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)--perylene bisimide copolymers: synthesis,photophysics, and photovoltaic properties of a new class of donor--acceptor materials

A Suzuki polycondensation reaction has been used to synthesize two copolymers consisting of alternating oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (OPV) donor and perylene bisimide (PERY) acceptor chromophores. The copolymers differ by the length of the saturated spacer that connects the OPV and PERY units. Photoinduced singlet energy transfer and photoinduced charge separation in these polychromophores have been studied in solution and in the solid state via photoluminescence and femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. In both polymers a photoinduced electron transfer occurs within a few picoseconds after excitation of the OPV or the PERY chromophore. The electron transfer from OPV excited state competes with a singlet energy transfer state to the PERY chromophore. The differences in rate constants for the electron- and energy-transfer processes are discussed on the basis of correlated quantum-chemical calculations and in terms of conformational preferences and folding of the two polymers. In solution, the lifetime of the charge-separated state is longer than in the films where geminate recombination is much faster. However, in the films some charges are able to escape from geminate recombination and diffuse away and can be collected at the electrodes when the polymers are incorporated in a photovoltaic device.     

Novel photocrosslinking of polymers bearing pendant acyloxyimino groups in the presence of p-benzoquinone

Films of polymers bearing pendant acyloxyimino (AOI) groups become insoluble when irradiated by ultraviolet light in the presence of p-benzoquinone. Post-heating of these films after irradiation also induces further the insolubilization. In the photocrosslinking, it is deduced that p-benzoquinone serves not only as sensitizer for the decomposition of AOI groups but also as crosslinker during the photo-irradiation and heating after irradiation.     

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.