Photo‐induced birefringence phenomenon of a double azo polymer

Abstract

Abstract Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) grafted with double azo bond 4[4′‐(phenylazo)phenylazo]phenol was synthesized and characterized. Photo‐induced birefringence phenomenon of this polymer was studied by static absorption and dynamic pump‐probe techniques, and was compared with that of another polymer Poly{(methyl methacrylate)‐ co ‐4‐[(3‐methacryloyloxy)} [P(MMA‐ co ‐MAZ)] containing mono azobenzene chromophore. The results showed that former polymer carrying two azo bonds, with a larger birefringence ratio, had a relatively faster optical switching response than the latter polymer under the same pump beam power. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry