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Full Paper
Liquid-Crystalline Polymer with a Block Mesogenic Side Group: Photoinduced Manipulation of Nanophase-Separated Structures
Article first published online: 2 NOV 2009
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200901247
Copyright © 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Additional Information
How to Cite
Okano, K., Mikami, Y. and Yamashita, T. (2009), Liquid-Crystalline Polymer with a Block Mesogenic Side Group: Photoinduced Manipulation of Nanophase-Separated Structures. Adv. Funct. Mater., 19: 3804–3808. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200901247
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 DEC 2009
- Article first published online: 2 NOV 2009
- Manuscript Received: 10 JUL 2009
Funded by
- CLUSTER (second stage) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Azobenzene;
- block mesogenes;
- Liquid crystals;
- Nanophase separation;
- Photoisomerization
Abstract
In this report, a novel type of photoresponsive liquid crystalline polymer with a block mesogenic side-group is demonstrated. The block mesogene is an amphipathic molecule containing a hydrophobic mesogene (azotolane moiety) and hydrophilic oligooxyethylene moieties in the same unit. The block mesogene in the polymer plays a role in liquid crystalline, amphiphilic and photoresponsive properties. As expected, a film prepared from the polymer exhibits phase separation of a lamellar structure due to cooperative motion between liquid crystal assembly and nanophase separation. The morphology of the lamellae can be aligned upon irradiation of linearly polarized light. Moreover, a photochemical phase transition induced by unpolarized UV irradiation erases the surface morphology. The erased nanostructure can be recovered by annealing or irradiation of linearly polarized light, meaning that the surface morphology is rewritable via a photochemical process.