Two series of photochromic copolymathacrylates containing cyanoazobenzene chromophores as side chains were described. The series with shorter ethylene spacer between mesogen and main polymethacrylate chain was amorphous, whereas the second one with longer ethoxyethylene spacer was liquid crystalline forming smectic C mesophase above Tg. The materials were deposited on glass substrates via spin coating and casting technique to provide thin transparent films. The reversible change of refractive index of the films on illumination with white light was determined by ellipsometry. The difference of real part of the refractive index of the sample was in the range 0.0067-0.0210 depending on the polymer. Formation of diffraction grating was achieved by two beam coupling arrangement using a 532 nm laser diode . The diffraction efficiency for the first order diffraction was in the range of 1.5-2.1% for the homopolymers.
The chromophoric materials were prepared by copolymerization of various methacrylic monomers. The incorporation of the chromophore groups was done by coupling reaction of diazonium salts of the sulfonamide such as: sulfomethazine or sulfisomidine). The copolymers having free OH groups were able to react with 3-triethoxypropyl isocyanate forming intermediates used to prepare hybrid transparent films by sol-gel technique. The films of both copolymers as well as of hybrid sol-gel structures showed photochromic properties via trans-cis isomerization of the diazo groups. The absorption maximum of the trans form was ca. 435-445 nm depending on chemical composition of the material. Illumination of the films with coherent laser beams (two-beam coupling) resulted in formation of diffraction grating. The diffraction efficiency reached 4-5 % and refractive index modulation was in the range up to 0.0032.
The holographic optical storage capacity with photopolymer is improved by creating a multigrating onto the surface of a azopolymer thin film with the use of a liquid droplet. We show by this method that three kinds of gratings can be created and controlled by different laser beam parameters as polarization or incident angle.
Although coherent light is usually required for the self-organization of regular spatial patterns from optical beams, we show that peculiar light matter interaction can break this evidence. In the traditional method to record laser-induced periodic surface structures, a light intensity distribution is produced at the surface of a polymer film by an interference between two coherent optical beams. We report on the self-organization followed by propagation of a surface relief pattern. It is induced in a polymer film by using a low-power and small-size coherent beam assisted by a high-power and large-size incoherent and unpolarized beam. We demonstrate that we can obtain large size and well organized patterns starting from a dissipative interaction. Our experiments open new directions to improve optical processing systems. We also discuss the relevance of our experiment to other systems such as social insects, for which a self-assembly or spatial pattern is organized within a collective group, starting from amplified fluctuations.
The orientation and attachment of neuronal cells were controlled by submicron-scale topographical patterns. The surface structure is realized with a laser beam and photo-responsive azobenzene polymer thin films. A surface relief grating (SRG) can be produced by self-organization of molecules under the action of light. The cells are attached onto the SRG and preferentially grown along the groove direction. The use of polymer thin films is good candidate for cellular engineering applications.
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