Stable Holographic Gratings with Small-Molecular Trisazobenzene Derivatives
摘要:
We present a series of small-molecular trisazobenzene chromophores, including, for instance, 1,3,5-tris{[4-[4-[(4-cyanophenyl)azo]phenoxy)butyryl]amino}benzene that feature a remarkably stable light-induced orientation in initially amorphous thin-film architectures. It is demonstrated that for optimal performance it is critical to design chemical structures that allow formation of both an amorphous and a liquid-crystalline phase. In the present approach, the liquid-crystal line feature was introduced by inserting decoupling spacers between a trisfunctionalized benzene core and the three azobenzene moieties, as well as adding polar end groups to the latter. To compensate for the deleterious reduction of the glass transition temperature associated with the spacers in the compounds, polar units were incorporated between the benzene core and the side groups. Intriguingly, the molecular glasses that feature a latent liquid-crystal line phase display a remarkable "postdevelopment", i.e., an increase of the amplitude of refractive index modulation in holographic experiments after writing of optical gratings is arrested, exceeding 20% for the previously mentioned derivative. Thus, these nonpolymeric, azobenzene-containing compounds presented in this work appear to be attractive candidates for fabrication of stable holographic volume gratings.
Cellulose-Based Liquid Crystalline Photoresponsive Films with Tunable Surface Wettability
摘要:
We report on a new type of liquid crystalline cellulosic films with light controllable reversible wettability. The films are prepared from a thermotropic cellulose derivative functionalized with azo-containing groups. These groups exhibit dynamic changes in interfacial properties in response to UV irradiation. The UV irradiation induces trans-to-cis isomerization in the azobenzene moiety, which causes a conformational change in the upper molecular layers of the thin films. These changes originate a hydrophobic to comparatively hydrophilic transformation of the surface. The reversible wettability of the surface results from the cis/trans photo and thermal isomerization. The UV-vis absorption spectra, as well as contact angle measurements with UV irradiation, clearly support the understanding of the phenomenon. This type of surface design enables the amplification of molecular level conformational transitions to macroscopic changes in interface properties using the means of isomerism This opens new opportunities in surface engineering using eco-friendly cellulose manipulation.
Fluorescent nanoparticles assembled from a poly(ionic liquid) for selective sensing of copper ions
作者:Kun Cui、Xuemin Lu、Wei Cui、Jun Wu、Xumeng Chen、Qinghua Lu
DOI:10.1039/c0cc03900d
日期:——
Fluorescent nanoparticles were formed from a poly(ionic liquid) through ion interactions. The fluorescent nanoparticles show highly fluorescent intensity and stability to UV light irradiation and were utilized for highly sensitive and selectivity fluorescent sensor of copper ion.