Molecules 2010, 15(1), 570-603; doi:10.3390/molecules15010570
Review

Photoresponsive Block Copolymers Containing Azobenzenes and Other Chromophores

Haifeng Yu 1,* email and Takaomi Kobayashi 2 email
1 Top Runner Incubation Center for Academia-Industry Fusion, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka 940-2188, Japan 2 Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka 940-2188, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 25 December 2009; in revised form: 11 January 2010 / Accepted: 25 January 2010 / Published: 26 January 2010
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photochemistry in Organic Synthesis)
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Abstract: Photoresponsive block copolymers (PRBCs) containing azobenzenes and other chromophores can be easily prepared by controlled polymerization. Their photoresponsive behaviors are generally based on photoisomerization, photocrosslinking, photoalignment and photoinduced cooperative motions. When the photoactive block forms mesogenic phases upon microphase separation of PRBCs, supramolecular cooperative motion in liquid-crystalline PRBCs enables them to self-organize into hierarchical structures with photoresponsive features. This offers novel opportunities to photocontrol microphase-separated nanostructures of well-defined PRBCs and extends their diverse applications in holograms, nanotemplates, photodeformed devices and microporous films.
Keywords: photoresponsive block copolymers; microphase separation; azobenzenes; liquid crystals; advanced materials

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Yu, H.; Kobayashi, T. Photoresponsive Block Copolymers Containing Azobenzenes and Other Chromophores. Molecules 2010, 15, 570-603.

AMA Style

Yu H, Kobayashi T. Photoresponsive Block Copolymers Containing Azobenzenes and Other Chromophores. Molecules. 2010; 15(1):570-603.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yu, Haifeng; Kobayashi, Takaomi. 2010. "Photoresponsive Block Copolymers Containing Azobenzenes and Other Chromophores." Molecules 15, no. 1: 570-603.

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