Reversible light-induced capacitance switching of azobenzene ether/PMMA blends

Fully reversible light-induced switching of the capacitance with changes larger than 50% has been achieved by using photo-active thin polymer films. The films consist of PMMA polymer blended with high concentrations of branched azobenzene ether dye molecules. Polymer thin sheet capacitors can be easily produced by spin coating and drop casting in various thicknesses ranging from 100 nm to 8 μm, respectively. Reversible capacitance switching is induced by illumination with UV and visible light, respectively. The capacitance change is correlated to the trans to cis isomerization of the azobenzene ether molecules and the alignment of the molecular dipoles in the film. Switching times depend on chromophore concentration, film thickness and light intensity used. The influence of wavelength of the light, of the temperature as well as of an electrical field applied during illumination on the capacitance change is addressed.     

Controlling wettability by light: illuminating the molecular mechanism

The functionalisation of a surface with an organic monolayer containing photoactive moieties such as the azobenzene chromophore opens an elegant route for controlling its wettability by light. In this paper we investigate the microscopic origin of the macroscopic change in wettability upon photo-induced cis-trans isomerization of a copolymeric diphenyl-diazene Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer. Polarised UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy have been used to monitor the orientational order of various functional groups, Atomic Force Microscopy and Imaging Ellipsometry is employed for the quantification of the surface roughness and morphology, contact angle and surface potential measurements are carried out for a characterisation of the polar ordering. The data analysis is further supported by semi-empirical and ab-initio calculations of the molecular dipole moments and the normal IR-modes of the fluorinated chromophore. The combination of all these techniques provides a detailed molecular picture. The data suggest that changes in the projection of the dipole moment onto the surface normal caused by isomerization of the azobenzene are responsible for the observed changes in the surface energy. This knowledge allowed us to predict guidelines for the synthesis of molecules in order to maximize the wetting contrast upon photo-irradiation. Received 5 September 2002 Published online: 16 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: hubert.motschmann@mpikg-golm.mpg.de     

A novel photo‐responsive organogel based on azobenzene

A novel triarmed cis‐1, 3, 5‐cyclohexanetricarboxamides gelator, functionalized by three azobenzene moieties grafted with three long alkyl chains, was designed and synthesized. The gelator can gel most of the organic solvents in low concentration. The morphologies of the xerogels show one‐dimensional aggregated bundles or helical fibres. The azobenzene groups in the gel state form H‐type aggregation and perform expected trans–cis photoisomerization with a gel to sol phase transition upon irradiation of UV light. The main driving force for gelation is intermolecular hydrogen bonding between amides and π–π interaction of azobenzene moieties. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear optical properties of stilbene and azobenzene derivatives containing azaphosphane groups

We have studied the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of some donor–acceptor molecules with stilbene and azobenzene molecules as backbone. We have used the nitro group as the acceptor and azaphosphane (R₃P=N–) as the donor group. To study the effect of variation of NLO properties, we have replaced the substituents (Rs) connected to the phosphorus atom by methyl, amine and phenyl groups. We find that both first-order polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities are larger for stilbene derivatives and is maximum for the phenyl substitution. Second-order polarizability is higher for methyl substitution. We have also obtained the two-photon absorption cross-section for these molecules. We find that both one-photon and two-photon absorption cross-sections are maximum for the same excited state (first excited state in the case of stilbene and second excited state in the case of azobenzene derivatives).     

Adsorption of carboxymethylester-azobenzene on copper and?gold?single crystal surfaces

The adsorption of 3,3′-di(methoxycarbonyl)azobenzene (CMA) on Au(111) and on Cu(001) substrates was studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements at the C, N, and O K edges. We find the molecules physisorbed in a planar conformation flat on the Au(111) surface. At higher coverages, a molecular crystal is formed wherein the molecules have the same flat geometry. On Cu(001), additional chemical bonds are formed between the molecules and the surface via the nitrogen atoms. Here the methyl benzoate moieties are tilted out of the surface plane.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of nonsymmetric liquid crystalline dimers containing azobenzene groups

Four novel nonsymmetric dimers containing azobenzene mesogenic groups were synthesized. The nonsymmetric dimers compounds namely, ethyl 4-[(4-{4-(4-((4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)alkyloxy}phenyl)diazenyl]benzoate were obtained from the alkylation of ethyl 4-[(4-(4-bromoalkyloxy)phenyl)diazenyl]benzoate with 4-[(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenol. The mesomorphic properties of the compounds were determined by DSC and polarizing optical microscopy. The first member of the series was nonliquid crystalline while all other homologues display nematic and smectic A phases. The trans-azobenzene groups of the dimers display a high-intensity π–π* transition at about 365 nm and a low-intensity n–π* transition at around 465 nm, therefore, photochromism can be achieved by the introduction of the azo linkage to the dimeric liquid crystalline molecules.     

Theoretical study on the isomerization mechanisms of phenylazopyridine on S0 and S1 states

In this work, some important structures tied closely to the isomerization of 2‐(phenylazo)pyridine (2‐PAPy) and 4‐(phenylazo)pyridine (4‐PAPy) on the S₀ and S₁ states were characterized in detail by using the complete active space SCF (CASSCF) theory. The isomerization mechanism was discussed on the basis of the mapped potential energy surfaces (PESs) and conical intersections (CIs). A comparison of PAPy with azobenzene was carried out to stress the effect of molecular structure on the photoisomerization details. The results indicate that the thermal isomerization for both 2‐PAPy and 4‐PAPy are mainly attributed to the inversion of CNN angle on the side of the pyridine ring. In view of the energy, an optimized CI_rot with a twisting structure supports the rotation mechanism in the photoisomerization of PAPy on the S₁ state. However, it was found that another conical intersection (CI_inv) with a planar structure is higher in energy than the corresponding trans‐FC structure, via which only the PAPy excited on S₂ state or vibrationally hot S₁ state can relax their excitation energy. Minimum energy paths (MEPs) showed that the relaxation process of cis‐PAPy being excited on the S₁ state is characterized by a smoothly falling curve, which is very similar to that of azobenzene. Furthermore, a S₁ minimum and a transition state (TS₁) were found to exist on the MEP starting from the trans‐FC point to the CI_rot for 4‐PAPy, but these two typical structures were not found on the MEP of 2‐PAPy. Compared with azobenzene, 4‐PAPy exhibits a very similar photoisomerization PES, but a subtly different one can be predicted in the case of 2‐PAPy. The present results are expected to provide useful information for the design of photoresponsive materials based on the PAPy units. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of diazo dye monolayers on HOPG

We report on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of monolayers of the diazo dye 4-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenylazo]azobenzene (D2, summation formula C₂₀H₁₉N₅) on the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Monolayers of the dye were prepared by vapour deposition or by dissolving the molecules in the liquid crystal octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB). The STM images show a double-row structure exhibiting different types of lattice defects and various domains. High-resolution images allow the identification of individual molecules and the observation of intramolecular contrast. The different orientations of the rows can be explained by a commensurate registry of the molecules with the substrate. A model for the unit cell is proposed.     

A semiclassical dynamics study of the photoisomerization of methyl-substituted azobenzene

A semiclassical dynamics simulation study is reported for a trans–cis photoisomerization cycle of four azo compounds, including azobenzene, 2-methylazobenzene, 2,6-dimethylazobenzene, and 2,2′-dimethylazobenzene. For both trans?→?cis and cis?→?trans isomerization processes, each compound is excited by a 50?fs (fwhm) laser pulse with a photon energy leading to a ππ* excitation. It is found that the compound in both cases follows a rotational path from reactant to product and that the isomerization dynamics is significantly affected by substitution. The relative times for completing a trans–cis isomerization cycle for four compounds, 2,6-dimethylazobenzene?>?2,2-dimethylazobenzene and 2,6-dimethylazobenzene?>?2-methylazobenzene>?azobenzene, follow the same order as for the photoinduced formation of the surface relief grating of polymers based on these four compounds. The simulation results provide a basis for understanding the surface relief grating formation of azobenzene-based materials upon irradiation with laser beams.     

Photodeformable CLCP material: study on photo-activated microvalve applications

A kind of photodeformable polymer material, crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer (CLCP) incorporated with azobenzene moieties, is studied as microvalve membrane actuator for microfluidic system applications. In the photomechanical analysis, the photo-induced bending effect of such polymer film is equivalent to a moment T _m and an axial force N _m applied on it, which are related to irradiation time and intensity of the driving UV light. A linear elastic beam model is established to calculate the maximal force that the valve actuator can resist and to analyze the deformation at any irradiation time in FEA. An experimental setup is built to record the flow rate in one operate cycle under various irradiation or preload conditions. The open time can reach 8 s and the close time 6 s. The results show that CLCP films have great potential in microvalve applications in biological engineering, drug delivering, etc. It has advantages of wireless, remote control and green energy.     

用简并四波混频对聚[3’-甲基-4’-二(N,N-氧亚乙基)胺基-4-硝基偶氮苯癸二酰]薄膜三阶非线性光学性质、光信息储存及光致异构过程的研究

通过简并四波混频法(DFWM)对“聚[3’-甲基-4’一二(N,N-氧亚乙基)胺基-4-硝基偶氮苯癸二酰]”薄膜的三阶非线性光学性质进行了研究,测得其三阶非线性系数X⁽³⁾达到6.6×10^-5esu.通过EFWM,测得样品有很强的光信息储存,另外通过对材料的光致异构过程的研究,测得在上升和下降过程中相位共轭光I^pc与时间t均满足确定的关系式,并与文中所推的理论相符.     

Determination of the population of the A 3Σu electronic state of nitrogen molecules in a glow-discharge plasma

Results on determining the population of the A ³Σ_u electronic state of N₂ molecules in a gas discharge using a relatively simple spectroscopic technique are reported. The technique proposed can be used not only in pure N₂, but also in nitrogen-containing gas mixtures. The populations of the metastable and nonequilibrium B ³Π_g states of nitrogen molecules are determined. It is shown that the electron-impact excitation is a dominant mechanism for populating the B ³Π_g state.     

新型偶氮苯衍生物的三阶非线性光学特性

本文以30 ps的脉冲激光为激发光源,用Z扫描技术研究了偶氮苯类材料4-羟基-4’-羧基偶氮苯(BN)和N-(3,4,5-辛氧基苯基)-N’-4-[(4-羟基苯)偶氮苯]1,3,4-恶二唑(AOB-t8)及金属复合物(Au/AOB-t8)的三阶非线性光学性质,并从理论上进行了分析和计算.结果表明,AOB-t8的三阶非线性极化率是BN的1.38倍,其非线性光学效应的增大是由共轭链增长、大π键增多引起的.结果同时给出,AOB-t8的三阶非线性极化率是其与金纳米颗粒复合物的4.7倍,这种与金属复合产生的非线性光学效应的减弱是金属引入的局域场效应与有机分子大π键作用之间相互抵消导致的.     

An anchoring strategy for photoswitchable biosensor technology: azobenzene-modified SAMs on Si(111)

A mild and efficient procedure has been developed to obtain covalently attached self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Si(111) with photochromic azobenzene head-groups. Starting from neat or diluted carboxylic acid functionalized monolayers on-chip coupling reactions were applied to attach hydroxyl-functionalized azobenzene units to the SAMs by ester bond formation. The modified surfaces were characterized by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and contact angle measurements. Reversible cis ↔ trans isomerizations of photoswitchable SAMs were monitored by wettability measurements. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Dedicated with respect and compliments to Professor Helmut Schwarz on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Effect of light polarization on holographic recording in glassy azocompounds and chalcogenides

Light polarization effects on a holographic grating recording in a glassy chalcogenide a-As₄₀S₁₅Se₄₅ film has been experimentally studied and compared with previously studied glassy molecular azobenzene film 8a at 633, using s − s,p − p, CE-1 and CE-2 circular-elliptic recording-beam polarizations (differing by light electric field rotation directions). The azocompound exhibited much higher self-diffraction efficiency (SDE) and diffraction efficiency whereas chalcogenide was more sensitive. Their recording efficiency polarization dependences also were different. SDE up to 45% was achieved in 8a with p − p and up to 2.6% in a-As₄₀S₁₅Se₄₅ with CE-2 polarized recording beams. The polarization changes in the diffraction process were studied as well in these and other materials (11, 16, 19 and a-As₂S₃ film, LiTaO₃:Fe crystal). It was found that light polarization changes in the process of diffraction from gratings recorded vectorially by s−p polarizations depended on chemical composition, wavelength, and exposure time. Vector gratings with SDE up to 25% were recorded in 8a, rotating a linear polarization by 90°. No light polarization changes were found in azobenzene 19 and chalcogenide films and in LiTaO₃:Fe crystal, thus showing a vector recording of scalar holograms. The recording mechanisms in azocompounds and chalcogenides are discussed and compared.     

The DFT study on non‐conjugated polymer host materials based on styrene derivatives for phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes

A series of poly(4,4‐vinyltriphenylamine) based non‐conjugated polymer as host molecules are designed and studied by density functional theory. The results show that the substituent has a great influence on the properties of polymer. The parent molecule directly linked para‐carbazole, β‐pyrrole and triphenylamine are favorable to hole injection, and para‐carbazole could significantly increase E_T of the host molecules. The large changes of structural parameters between the lowest triplet state and ground state can cause the decrease of E_T. Moreover, parent molecule directly linked carbazole and triphenylamine units possess strong intramolecular charge transfer and low singlet and triplet energy difference (?E_ST). The calculated results also show that all designed host molecules are suitable for green emitter by comparing with the E_T. S₁ → S₁ and T₁ → T₁ energy transfer mechanism between host and guest is thermodynamically feasible. In addition, host–guest model is built to study the charge transfer nature, and the results indicate that a good intermolecular charge transfer can be achieved between host and guest materials. In the designed host molecules, the N atom of parent molecule linked para‐carbazole substituent shows a great potential for the green phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation and manipulation of discrete supramolecular azobenzene assemblies

Azobenzene derivatives were deposited onto a Au(111) surface and studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. The symmetry of the parent azobenzene was broken by introducing tert-butyl groups which are known to decouple the molecular core from the substrate, on the one end, and carboxylic acid groups which direct and stabilize the supramolecular assembly structure on the surface by intermolecular hydrogen bonding, on the other end. As a consequence of the interacting COOH groups, the molecules assemble on the surface either in extended, polymeric chains and/or in discrete, hexameric rosettes. The high stability of the rosette structure is proven experimentally by controlled lateral displacement on the surface without breaking the non-covalent interactions. Although switching attempts were not successful, the approach herein should facilitate the construction of well-defined multi-switch arrays. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Detailed mechanism of trans–cis photoisomerization of azobenzene studied by semiclassical dynamics simulation

A realistic dynamics simulation study is reported for the trans–cis photoisomerization of azobenzene. The simulation follows both nπ* and ππ* excitations and each excitation is induced by a 50 fs (FWHM) laser pulse. The simulation results show that, for both excitations, the reaction path is predominated by the rotation coordinate of the NN bond. The simulation finds that the CNN inversion angles expand as soon as the rotation starts. The expansion of the CNN bond angles permits the molecule to rotate efficiently. It is therefore suggested that the photoisomerization of trans-azobenzene follows an inversion-assisted rotation path. These simulation results are significant for understanding the mechanism of this important process.     

Supramolecular assemblies of azobenzene‐β‐cyclodextrin dimers and azobenzene modified polycaprolactones

Click chemistry is employed to couple two β‐cyclodextrins at both ends of azobenzene moiety yielding dumbbell‐shaped amphiphiles (AZO‐β‐CD dimer) constructed by rigid aromatic building blocks as “body”, and hydrophilic cyclodextrins as “head” with almost quantitative yield and purity. Bulk aggregates formed by the self‐assembly of the supraamphiphiles through π–π stacking and hydrophobic effect are observed. Meanwhile, the rationally designed polyesters, named as AZO‐PCL with controllable molecular weights and low polydispersities, are successfully synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in the presence of p‐aminoazobenzene as initiator. In the aqueous phase, very stable spherical particles are formed by host–guest interactions between AZO‐β‐CD and AZO‐PCLs; the spherical aggregates inherit the photo‐responsiveness of azobenzene. The detailed aggregation and disaggregation behaviors are fully investigated by TEM, SEM, NMR, 2D NOESY, IR, UV and XRD measurements. Compared to the previous works, our newly developed system can be fabricated with more readily manners, avoiding tedious synthetic process; the reversible and dynamic nature of the non‐covalent interactions also can be modulated alternatively by UV or visible light. Thus, such dumbbell‐shaped supra‐amphiphiles are of great potential applications in the controlled delivery systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nuclear fusion in charge-asymmetric muonic molecules

Nuclear fusion reactions in hydrogen-lithium muonic molecules, (where h=p,d,t) are considered and fusion rates from rotational states J=0 of the molecules are presented. Results obtained depend on the isotopic composition of the molecules and range between and . The upper limit for fusion rates from rotational states J=0 of hydrogen-helium muonic molecules, and , equal , is also found. Received: 4 December 1997 / Revised: 30 April 1998 / Accepted: 7 May 1998