<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>One of the most important properties of the molecular switches is turning of a molecule by external action, e.g. by irradiation with light of definite wavelength. The molecules of promise for the molecular switches are those with azobenzene moiety. When azobenzene is irradiated with light of definite wavelength, it is possible to observe the process of <italic>trans/cis</italic> isomerisation. In this work, the influence of photoisomerisation processes on the changes in the surface potential of a novel azobenzene compound is investigated.</p><p>We have studied the surface potential of a PMMA polymer film with polar azobenzene derivative of different concentrations. To orient azobenzene molecules in the film the corona poling method was used, and for studying the surface potential variations - the Kelvin probe method. The photoreaction time constant of the fast response (several seconds) was found to be almost independent of the molecular concentration in the polymer film and of the absorbed light intensity in the bulk of a sample. In contrast, the amplitude of photoinduced changes in the surface potential depends both on the concentration of azobenzene molecules and on the absorbed light intensity in bulk of the host-guest polymer film.</p></abstract>

One of the most important properties of the molecular switches is turning of a molecule by external action, e.g. by irradiation with light of definite wavelength. The molecules of promise for the molecular switches are those with azobenzene moiety. When azobenzene is irradiated with light of definite wavelength, it is possible to observe the process of trans/cis isomerisation. In this work, the influence of photoisomerisation processes on the changes in the surface potential of a novel azobenzene compound is investigated.We have studied the surface potential of a PMMA polymer film with polar azobenzene derivative of different concentrations. To orient azobenzene molecules in the film the corona poling method was used, and for studying the surface potential variations - the Kelvin probe method. The photoreaction time constant of the fast response (several seconds) was found to be almost independent of the molecular concentration in the polymer film and of the absorbed light intensity in the bulk of a sample. In contrast, the amplitude of photoinduced changes in the surface potential depends both on the concentration of azobenzene molecules and on the absorbed light intensity in bulk of the host-guest polymer film.

Photoisomerization Processes of Azobenzene Compounds in Thin Poymer Films

Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, LV 1063 Riga, Latvia

Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences

{"article-title":"Photoisomerization Processes of Azobenzene Compounds in Thin Poymer Films"}

One of the most important properties of the molecular switches is turning of a molecule by external action, e.g. by irradiation with light of definite...

Photoisomerization Processes of Azobenzene Compounds in Thin Poymer Films

Published Online: Jul 16, 2010

Page range: 5 - 12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10047-010-0009-y

Keywords
azobenzene compounds, surface potential, host-guest polymer film, photoinduced switching processes

This content is open access.

Photoisomerization Processes of Azobenzene Compounds in Thin Poymer Films

Published Online: Jul 16, 2010

Page range: 5 - 12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10047-010-0009-y

Keywordsazobenzene compounds, surface potential, host-guest polymer film, photoinduced switching processes

This content is open access.

Keywords
azobenzene compounds, surface potential, host-guest polymer film, photoinduced switching processes