Advanced Materials · 2002 · 190 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceMaterials ChemistryOptical MaterialsSurface ScienceAmorphous MaterialsAmorphous SolidsGlass MaterialsOptical GlassesPhotochromic MaterialsThin Film Optical PropertiesAmorphous RegionsAzobenzene PhotochromismGlass TransitionGlass Transition TemperatureModulation DepthOptical Properties Of Amorphous MaterialsPhotochromic GlassesSurface Relief
A new photochromic amorphous molecular material based on an azobenzene, BFlAB, has been designed and synthesized. BFlAB readily forms an amorphous glass with a glass-transition temperature of 97 °C and exhibits photochromism in the amorphous solid film as well as in solution. The BFlAB amorphous film forms a surface relief grating (see Figure) with a high diffraction efficiency and a large modulation depth by irradiation with two coherent 488 nm Ar+ laser beams.