| Abstract: | A main‐chain, azoaromatic, chromophore‐functionalized polyelectrolyte with an oligomeric molecular weight was synthesized by the reaction of 4,4′‐azobispyridine and 1,6‐dibromohexane. The polyelectrolyte was designed to contain ionic groups to impart electrostatic self‐assembly with polyanion and azoaromatic groups for photoprocessability. The polymer solution exhibited a solvatochromic effect, having different absorption maxima in water (294 nm) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (400 nm). By a change in the counteranions of the bispyridinium groups, the solubility of the polymer could be controlled, and this made it possible to fabricate electrostatic assembled films or spin‐cast films for further applications. The direct photofabrication of laser‐induced interference patterns on polymer surfaces with large surface modulation was also investigated with an argon ion laser. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1196–1201, 2003 |
