Light‐Orchestrated Macromolecular “Accordions”: Reversible Photoinduced Shrinking of Rigid‐Rod Polymers

Abstract

Light can play: Irradiation causes dramatic changes in the shape of rigid-rod polymers incorporating azobenzene photochromes in the main chain. The embedded photoswitches act as hinges, which upon light-induced isomerization lead to reversible shrinking and stretching of the polymer backbone (see scheme), resembling light-orchestrated macromolecular accordions.