Photo-alignment Property of Azobenzene-containing Polyimide Films Swollen by Alkyl-amine |
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| Authors: | Kenji Sakamoto Kiyoaki Usami Kazushi Miki |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Polymer Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanSAKAMOTO.Kenji@nims.go.jp;3. Department of Information Systems Engineering, Osaka Sangyo University, Nakagaito, Daito-shi, Osaka, Japan;4. Polymer Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Photo-alignment efficiency of polyimide containing azobenzene in the backbone structure (Azo-PI) is significantly enhanced by exposing the precursor (polyamic acid: Azo-PAA) film to alkyl-amine vapor prior to photo-alignment. In this study, we have investigated the relationships between the alkyl-amine vapor treatment time, the swelling ratio of Azo-PAA films, and the photo-induced in-plane anisotropy. We found that: the Azo-PAA film swells on exposure to alkyl-amine vapor, and the swelling finally saturates; and the photo-induced in-plane anisotropy is correlated very closely with the swelling ratio. In addition, we pointed out the importance of the process order of alkyl-amine vapor treatment and photo-alignment. |
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| Keywords: | Photo-alignment azobenzene polyimide alkyl-amine swelling photoisomerization |
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