Synthesis and characterization of a photochromic sol–gel material functionalized with azo dye

Ke, Xizheng; Yan, Xingzhong; Song, Su Jung; Li, Daqun; Yang, Jame J.; Wang, Michael R.

doi:10.1016/j.optmat.2006.06.019

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The mechanism involves repeating E − Z photoisomerization and relaxation of azobenzene chromophores resulting in the orientation of azobenzene units perpendicularly to the polarization of the irradiating light. Both stable and dynamic anisotropy has been induced, and birefringence gratings have been inscribed in a variety of materials. – Later on the formation of surface relief gratings (SRG) has been observed in films of the azobenzene functionalized polymers under holographic exposure. , Since then the formation of SRG has been demonstrated in a variety of the azobenzene-containing materials including dye-doped systems, functionalized polymers, , Langmuir−Blodgett and layer-by-layer films, film forming low molecular weight materials, – hybrid sol−gel matrices, – and materials based on the ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. – The SRGs, all optically formed in the thin films, show very high diffraction efficiencies, near the theoretical limit for Raman−Nath diffraction regime, and therefore are very prospective for many applications in optics and information technologies. ,,– …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both stable and dynamic anisotropy has been induced, and birefringence gratings have been inscribed in a variety of materials. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Later on the formation of surface relief gratings (SRG) has been observed in films of the azobenzene functionalized polymers under holographic exposure. 9,10 Since then the formation of SRG has been demonstrated in a variety of the azobenzene-containing materials in-cluding dye-doped systems, 11 functionalized polymers, 12,13 Langmuir-Blodgett and layer-by-layer films, 14 film forming low molecular weight materials, [15][16][17] hybrid solgel matrices, [18][19][20] and materials based on the ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smart Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials for Optical Generation of Microstructures

et al. 2008

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We propose a concept of supramolecular materials for effective all-optical generation of surface relief structures. The materials are based on the ionic interactions between oppositely charged photochromic azobenzene units and polysiloxane backbones formed in situ. The materials are easy to produce from commercial components. Using ionic interactions to connect photochromic units to the polymer backbones allowed very high dye-doping levels without aggregation. Because of this noncovalent bonding the polymer chains got involved in the photoinduced translation motion of azobenzene units resulting in very effective formation of surface relief gratings. For the first time some relaxation processes which counteract the light-induced formation of surface relief structures were suggested. Under consideration of these processes the influence of network formation and alternatively of glassy state on the efficiency of mass transport and the stability of induced structures was discussed. Because of the simplicity and versatility of the concept the new family of materials for applications in optics, sensorics, and biology may be designed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials for Optical Generation of Microstructures

et al. 2008

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“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The performance of these materials rely on our ability to control the kinetics of the E-Z photoisomerization which can be achieved by the proper choice of the environmental media 3,6 or by the change in the azobenzene structure. [25][26][27][28] Although a large variety of diarylazo compounds are used in the design of optical materials, only a few reports concerning the photoisomerization of heterocyclic azo dyes can be found in the literature. [29][30] In the last years we have synthesized a large variety of heterocyclic azo dyes substituted by electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups ('push/pull' substitution pattern) that possess solvatochromic, photochromic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties which are influenced by the electronic nature of the -conjugated bridge (thienylpyrrole or bithiophene) and by the substitution pattern on the aryl and heteroaryl-diazene moieties (Figure 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancement of the photochromic switching speed of bithiophene azo dyes

Coelho

Castro

Fernandes

et al. 2012

Tetrahedron Letters

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A series of heteroaryl substituted bithiophene azo dyes in solution were irradiated with visible light to promote the azo E-Z isomerization and then the kinetics of the thermal Z-E back reaction was studied. The speed of this process is strongly influenced by the nature of the aromatic ring linked to the N=N function. While thiazole bithiophene azo dyes exhibit high switching speeds between the two isomers, but limited interconversion, for benzothiazole and substituted thiadiazole bithiophene azo dyes the switching between the two photoisomers can be performed in 3 seconds with a significant conversion of the trans-isomer to the thermal unstable cis-isomer (19-21%) and therefore a notable variation of the visible spectrum is observed.

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“…Both stable and dynamic anisotropy including birefringence gratings have been widely investigated in a variety of materials – . The formation of SRG has been mostly investigated in films of azobenzene functionalized polymers as presented in early reviews , , including hybrid sol−gel matrices , .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenomenology of Photoinduced Processes in the Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials

Kulikovsky

Kulikovska

Goldenberg

et al. 2009

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Very recently, supramolecular azobenzene-containing materials have been demonstrated to be effective for holographic inscription of surface relief gratings. High efficiency of grating formation in these materials is advantageously combined with easy material preparation because of the supramolecular principle of building blocs combination, availability of chemical components, and good film-forming properties. The materials show great promise for wide optical applications. Here, one type of material formulation based on ionic complexes of poly(aminosiloxane) is experimentally investigated concerning the induction of birefringence, efficiency of relief formation, and thermal stability of surface structures. Properties of the material were changed on the molecular level by varying the azobenzene content and on the macro level by varying chemical processing conditions. The results are discussed in terms of cross-linking and plasticizing effects caused by residual solvent and the low-molecular-weight azobenzene component. An improvement of both the efficiency of grating formation and their thermal stability by these means has been demonstrated. The results can be adapted to other azobenzene-containing materials. In addition, a drastic change of films solubility has been observed upon irradiation.

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Synthesis and characterization of a photochromic sol–gel material functionalized with azo dye

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Smart Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials for Optical Generation of Microstructures

Smart Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials for Optical Generation of Microstructures

Enhancement of the photochromic switching speed of bithiophene azo dyes

Phenomenology of Photoinduced Processes in the Ionic Sol−Gel-Based Azobenzene Materials

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