Abstract A novel methacrylate monomer containing azobenzene chromophore and tetrazole moiety, 4′-(2-methacryloxyethyl)methylamino-4-(5-chlorotetrazol-1-yl)azobenzene (MACA), was synthesized and polymerized to form homopolymer (PMACA) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) as the RAFT agent and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)