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Osthues H, Doltsinis NL. ReaxFF-based nonadiabatic dynamics method for azobenzene derivatives. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:244101. [PMID: 36586973 DOI: 10.1063/5.0129699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
ReaxFF reactive force fields have been parameterized for the ground and first excited states of azobenzene and its derivatives. In addition, an extended set of ab initio reference data ensures wide applicability, including to azosystems in complex environments. Based on the optimized force fields, nonadiabatic surface hopping simulations produce photoisomerization quantum yields and decay times of azobenzene, both in the gas phase and in n-hexane solution, in reasonable agreement with higher level theory and experiment. The transferability to other azo-compounds is illustrated for different arylazopyrazoles as well as ethylene-bridged azobenzene. Moreover, it has been shown that the model can be easily extended to adsorbates on metal surfaces. The simulation of the ring-opening of cyclobutene triggered by the photoisomerization of azobenzene in a macrocycle highlights the advantages of a reactive force field model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Osthues
- Institute for Solid State Theory and Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nikos L Doltsinis
- Institute for Solid State Theory and Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, Germany
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2
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Yamaguchi T, Ogawa M. Photoinduced movement: how photoirradiation induced the movements of matter. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS 2022; 23:796-844. [PMID: 36465797 PMCID: PMC9718566 DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2022.2142955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pioneered by the success on active transport of ions across membranes in 1980 using the regulation of the binding properties of crown ethers with covalently linked photoisomerizable units, extensive studies on the movements by using varied interactions between moving objects and environments have been reported. Photoinduced movements of various objects ranging from molecules, polymers to microscopic particles were discussed from the aspects of the driving for the movements, materials design to achieve the movements and systems design to see and to utilize the movements are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Yamaguchi
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Makoto Ogawa
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong, Thailand
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3
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Soulé ER. Thermodynamic model of Phase equilibrium and isomerization in photoactive azobenzene-based materials. Chem Phys 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2022.111786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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4
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Soulé ER. Thermodynamic model of phase transitions induced by cis-trans thermal- and photo-isomerization of azobenzenes. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.139503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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5
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Koch M, Saphiannikova M, Guskova O. Cyclic Photoisomerization of Azobenzene in Atomistic Simulations: Modeling the Effect of Light on Columnar Aggregates of Azo Stars. Molecules 2021; 26:7674. [PMID: 34946756 PMCID: PMC8709326 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This computational study investigates the influence of light on supramolecular aggregates of three-arm azobenzene stars. Every star contains three azobenzene (azo) moieties, each able to undergo reversible photoisomerization. In solution, the azo stars build column-shaped supramolecular aggregates. Previous experimental works report severe morphological changes of these aggregates under UV-Vis light. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still debated. Here we aim to elucidate how light affects the structure and stability of the columnar stacks on the molecular scale. The system is investigated using fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. To implement the effects of light, we first developed a stochastic model of the cyclic photoisomerization of azobenzene. This model reproduces the collective photoisomerization kinetics of the azo stars in good agreement with theory and previous experiments. We then apply light of various intensities and wavelengths on an equilibrated columnar stack of azo stars in water. The simulations indicate that the aggregate does not break into separate fragments upon light irradiation. Instead, the stack develops defects in the form of molecular shifts and reorientations and, as a result, it eventually loses its columnar shape. The mechanism and driving forces behind this order-disorder structural transition are clarified based on the simulations. In the end, we provide a new interpretation of the experimentally observed morphological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Koch
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Marina Saphiannikova
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS), Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Olga Guskova
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS), Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
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6
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Cheng X, Miao T, Qian Y, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Zhu X. Supramolecular Chirality in Azobenzene-Containing Polymer System: Traditional Postpolymerization Self-Assembly Versus In Situ Supramolecular Self-Assembly Strategy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6186. [PMID: 32867119 PMCID: PMC7503415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the design of novel supramolecular chiral materials has received a great deal of attention due to rapid developments in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and molecular self-assembly. Supramolecular chirality has been widely introduced to polymers containing photoresponsive azobenzene groups. On the one hand, supramolecular chiral structures of azobenzene-containing polymers (Azo-polymers) can be produced by nonsymmetric arrangement of Azo units through noncovalent interactions. On the other hand, the reversibility of the photoisomerization also allows for the control of the supramolecular organization of the Azo moieties within polymer structures. The construction of supramolecular chirality in Azo-polymeric self-assembled system is highly important for further developments in this field from both academic and practical points of view. The postpolymerization self-assembly strategy is one of the traditional strategies for mainly constructing supramolecular chirality in Azo-polymers. The in situ supramolecular self-assembly mediated by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a facile one-pot approach for the construction of well-defined supramolecular chirality during polymerization process. In this review, we focus on a discussion of supramolecular chirality of Azo-polymer systems constructed by traditional postpolymerization self-assembly and PISA-mediated in situ supramolecular self-assembly. Furthermore, we will also summarize the basic concepts, seminal studies, recent trends, and perspectives in the constructions and applications of supramolecular chirality based on Azo-polymers with the hope to advance the development of supramolecular chirality in chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wei Zhang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (X.C.); (T.M.); (Y.Q.); (Z.Z.); (X.Z.)
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7
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Salerno KM, Lenhart JL, de Pablo JJ, Sirk TW. Vapor-Deposited Glasses Highlight the Role of Density in Photostability. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:6112-6120. [PMID: 32609518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c03579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Photoresponsive molecules can be integrated into glassy materials to probe the local environment and invoke responsive changes in polymer behavior. For example, recent experiments and simulations have studied increased stability in vapor-deposited glasses by examining the photoisomerization rate of a probe molecule. At the theoretical level, past work relied on coarse-grained simulations to explain the role of photoisomerization on glass behavior. In order to effectively exploit these molecular probes, an ability to quantify how the local environment influences the photoisomerization rate is needed. In this work, we present all-atom molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of molecular glasses of photoresponsive azobenzene (AB) molecules. The stability of these in-silico samples is probed using photoisomerization, where AB molecules can undergo trans → cis transition upon light exposure. Vapor-deposited and bulk-cooled glasses of AB are simulated using a classical dihedral-switching potential developed by Böckmann et al. (J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 114, 745-754) to model the photoisomerization process. The MD simulations include thousands of molecules and run for tens of nanoseconds. These size and time scales allow us to explore the broad distribution of photoisomerization wait times, which yields two results. First, the wait-time distributions for both physical vapor deposition and bulk-cooled glasses depend strongly on sample and local density, showing that density or local packing is a primary factor in glass stability against photoisomerization and the experimentally measured photoresponse. Second, the distribution follows a power-law with exponent b ≈ 1.25-1.3 that extends to longer times with increasing density. The power-law distribution suggests a connection with previous experiments that related barriers to photoisomerization with an effective photoisomerization temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Salerno
- Polymers Branch, United States Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, United States
| | - Joseph L Lenhart
- Polymers Branch, United States Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, United States
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Timothy W Sirk
- Polymers Branch, United States Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, United States
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8
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Liu H, Liu Y, Shang Y, Liu H. Molecular dynamics simulation for drug delivery in azobenzene-containing membranes. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2019.1699655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hengjiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yazhuo Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Honglai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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9
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Koch M, Saphiannikova M, Guskova O. Do Columns of Azobenzene Stars Disassemble under Light Illumination? LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:14659-14669. [PMID: 31627699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The clustering properties of star-shaped molecules comprising three photochromic azobenzene-containing arms are investigated with specific focus on the influence of light on these structures. Previous experimental works report self-assembly of azobenzene stars in aqueous solution into long columnar clusters that are detectable using optical microscopy. These clusters appear to vanish under UV irradiation, which is known to induce trans-to-cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene groups. We have performed MD simulations, density functional theory, and density functional tight binding calculations to determine conformational properties and binding energies of these clusters. Our simulation data suggest that the binding strength of the clusters is large enough to prevent a breaking along their main axis. We conclude that very likely other mechanisms lead to the apparent disappearance of the clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Koch
- Institute Theory of Polymers , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden , Hohe Str. 6 , 01069 Dresden , Germany
| | - Marina Saphiannikova
- Institute Theory of Polymers , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden , Hohe Str. 6 , 01069 Dresden , Germany
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS) , Technische Universität Dresden , 01062 Dresden , Germany
| | - Olga Guskova
- Institute Theory of Polymers , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden , Hohe Str. 6 , 01069 Dresden , Germany
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS) , Technische Universität Dresden , 01062 Dresden , Germany
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10
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Qian S, Li S, Xiong W, Khan H, Huang J, Zhang W. A new visible light and temperature responsive diblock copolymer. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py01050e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A visible light and temperature responsive diblock copolymer of poly[6-(2,6,2′,6′-tetramethoxy-4′-oxyazobenzene) hexyl methacrylate]-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PmAzo-b-PNIPAM) was synthesized via RAFT polymerization by carefully tuning the polymerization conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Qian
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- Nankai University
- Tianjin 300071
| | - Shenzhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- Nankai University
- Tianjin 300071
| | - Weifeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Special Functional Waterproof Materials
- Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co
- Ltd
- Beijing 100123
- China
| | - Habib Khan
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- Nankai University
- Tianjin 300071
| | - Jing Huang
- Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering
- Beijing
- China
| | - Wangqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- Nankai University
- Tianjin 300071
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11
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de Souza RF, Granado SA, Evangelista LR, Lenzi EK, Li Q, Zola RS. Effect of dynamically changing the substrate's easy axis on the response time of nematic samples. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:505401. [PMID: 30457123 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aaea51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent discoveries of advanced photocontrolled materials have kindled a great deal of interest on their use as command surfaces that switch easy axis under light radiation. One noticeable point when using switchable surfaces on any application is how the dynamical process propagates to the bulk directors. In this paper, we theoretically study the effect of a relaxing easy axis over time on a nematic sample when finite anchoring energy and surface viscosity are included. We first consider the case where just one of the substrates decay over time in an initially distorted director organization. Next, we assume that both substrates can be switched simultaneously. From the calculated director we obtained the optical profile and finally the molecular response time of the material. The response time depends on both the materials and the surfaces properties including its decay time. Our results might be used for understanding and engineering liquid crystal displays and other electro-optical devices with photocontrolled alignment layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- R F de Souza
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790-87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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12
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de Souza RF, Lenzi EK, de Souza RT, Evangelista LR, Li Q, Zola RS. Surface induced twist in nematic and chiral nematic liquid crystals: stick-slip-like and constrained motion. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:2084-2093. [PMID: 29485156 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm02122d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Surface driven pattern formation is an intriguing phenomenon in the liquid crystal field. Owing to its ability to transmit torque, one can generate different patterns by propagating distortions on the optical wavelength scale in the sample from the surface. Here, we theoretically investigate (from the elasticity point of view) twist deformations induced by a rotating easy axis at one surface, by considering the anchoring energy and surface viscosity of nematic and chiral nematic samples. The model is solved analytically in the limit of strong anchoring and numerically for a low anchoring strength situation. Such rotation could be induced, in principle, by light-controlling the orientation of an azobenzene monolayer coated at one of the glass substrates or by an in-plane rotating field. We discuss the role of the surface parameters and the different distortions, and calculate light transmission using the Jones method. Three different regimes are identified: free twist, stick-slip twist, and constrained twist. The results obtained here may be relevant for liquid crystal active waveplates and for determining surface viscosity and the azimuthal anchoring energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R F de Souza
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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13
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Ciobotarescu S, Bechelli S, Rajonson G, Migirditch S, Hester B, Hurduc N, Teboul V. Folding time dependence of the motions of a molecular motor in an amorphous medium. Phys Rev E 2018; 96:062614. [PMID: 29347361 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.062614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the dependence of the displacements of a molecular motor embedded inside a glassy material on its folding characteristic time τ_{f}. We observe two different time regimes. For slow foldings (regime I) the diffusion evolves very slowly with τ_{f}, while for rapid foldings (regime II) the diffusion increases strongly with τ_{f}(D≈τ_{f}^{-2}), suggesting two different physical mechanisms. We find that in regime I the motor's displacement during the folding process is counteracted by a reverse displacement during the unfolding, while in regime II this counteraction is much weaker. We notice that regime I behavior is reminiscent of the scallop theorem that holds for larger motors in a continuous medium. We find that the difference in the efficiency of the motor's motion explains most of the observed difference between the two regimes. For fast foldings the motor trajectories differ significantly from the opposite trajectories induced by the following unfolding process, resulting in a more efficient global motion than for slow foldings. This result agrees with the fluctuation theorems expectation for time reversal mechanisms. In agreement with the fluctuation theorems we find that the motors are unexpectedly more efficient when they are generating more entropy, a result that can be used to increase dramatically the motor's motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ciobotarescu
- Laboratoire de Photonique d'Angers EA 4464, Université d'Angers, Physics Department, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France.,Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, 73 Professor Dimitrie Mangeron Street, 700050 Iasi, Romania
| | - Solene Bechelli
- Laboratoire de Photonique d'Angers EA 4464, Université d'Angers, Physics Department, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France
| | - Gabriel Rajonson
- Laboratoire de Photonique d'Angers EA 4464, Université d'Angers, Physics Department, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France
| | - Samuel Migirditch
- Laboratoire de Photonique d'Angers EA 4464, Université d'Angers, Physics Department, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France.,Physics and Astronomy Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA
| | - Brooke Hester
- Physics and Astronomy Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA
| | - Nicolae Hurduc
- Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, 73 Professor Dimitrie Mangeron Street, 700050 Iasi, Romania
| | - Victor Teboul
- Laboratoire de Photonique d'Angers EA 4464, Université d'Angers, Physics Department, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France
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14
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Dong D, Wei X, Hooper JB, Pan H, Bedrov D. Role of cationic groups on structural and dynamical correlations in hydrated quaternary ammonium-functionalized poly(p-phenylene oxide)-based anion exchange membranes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:19350-19362. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp02211a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were conducted using a polarizable force field to study hydroxide and water dynamics in anion exchange membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengpan Dong
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering
- University of Utah
- Salt Lake City
- USA
| | - Xiaoyu Wei
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering
- University of Utah
- Salt Lake City
- USA
| | - Justin B. Hooper
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering
- University of Utah
- Salt Lake City
- USA
| | - Hongchao Pan
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering
- University of Utah
- Salt Lake City
- USA
| | - Dmitry Bedrov
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering
- University of Utah
- Salt Lake City
- USA
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15
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Taamalli S, Belmabrouk H, Van Hoang V, Teboul V. How do packing defects modify the cooperative motions in supercooled liquids? Chem Phys 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Laventure A, Bourotte J, Vapaavuori J, Karperien L, Sabat RG, Lebel O, Pellerin C. Photoactive/Passive Molecular Glass Blends: An Efficient Strategy to Optimize Azomaterials for Surface Relief Grating Inscription. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:798-808. [PMID: 27976586 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b11849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Irradiation of azomaterials causes various photophysical and photomechanical effects that can be exploited for the preparation of functional materials such as surface relief gratings (SRGs). Herein, we develop and apply an efficient strategy to optimize the SRG inscription process by decoupling, for the first time, the important effects of the azo content and glass transition temperature (Tg). We prepare blends of a photoactive molecular glass functionalized with the azo Disperse Red 1 (gDR1) with a series of analogous photopassive molecular glasses. Blends with 10 and 40 mol % of gDR1 are completely miscible, present very similar optical properties, and cover a wide range of Tg from below to well above ambient temperature. SRG inscription experiments show that the diffraction efficiency (DE), residual DE, and initial inscription rate reach a maximum when Tg is 25-40 °C above ambient temperature for low to high azo content, respectively. Indeed, for a fixed 40 mol % azo content, choosing the optimal Tg enables doubling the SRG inscription rate and increasing DE 6-fold. Moreover, a higher azo content enables higher DE for a similar Tg. Spectroscopy measurements indicate that the photo-orientation of DR1 and its thermal stability are maximal with Tg around 70 °C, independent of the azo content. We conclude that the SRG potential of azomaterials depends on their capability to photo-orient but that the matrix rigidity eventually limits the inscription kinetics, leading to an optimal Tg that depends on the azo content. This study exposes clear material design guidelines to optimize the SRG inscription process and the photoactivity of azomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Laventure
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jérémie Bourotte
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jaana Vapaavuori
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Lucas Karperien
- Department of Physics, Royal Military College of Canada , Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Ribal Georges Sabat
- Department of Physics, Royal Military College of Canada , Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Olivier Lebel
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada , Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Christian Pellerin
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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