Effect of concentration of photoactive chromophores on photomechanical properties of crosslinked azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymers

Abstract

We studied the effects of concentration and location of azobenzene chromophores on the photoinduced deformation of crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymers (CLCPs). The concentration of azobenzene chromophores in CLCP affects the degree of isomerization of azobenzene moieties and the macroscopic deformation behaviour of the films while the location of azobenzene moieties determines the contraction force and length.