Light-Switching Azo-Copolymers Self-Assembly in Multi-Stationary States

Shumin Dong; Wen Sun; Dongsheng Wang; Haiquan Zhao; Gen Zu; Yonghao Zheng

doi:10.1002/marc.201900058

Light-Switching Azo-Copolymers Self-Assembly in Multi-Stationary States

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2019 May;40(9):e1900058. doi: 10.1002/marc.201900058. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Authors

Shumin Dong¹, Wen Sun², Dongsheng Wang^{1

3}, Haiquan Zhao¹, Gen Zu¹, Yonghao Zheng^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
⁴ Center for Applied Chemistry, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.

PMID: 30844103
DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900058

Abstract

In the present research, novel tri-block-copolymers bearing polyethylene glycol (PEG), azobenzene (Azo), and tetra-ortho-methoxy-substituted Azo (mAzo) segments are synthesized and explored. Light-controlled PEG-PmAzo-PAzo self-assemblies switching between multi-stationary states is realized. Under controlling of UV, blue, green, and red light, PEG-PmAzo-PAzo isomerize between 4 photostationary states. The enrichment of cis isomers of Azo and mAzo induces the self-assembly of PEG-PmAzo-PAzo in toluene. The morphologies and scale of the self-assemblies can be switched between four stationary states, which are investigated by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Keywords: azobenzene; light-switching; self-assembly; tri-block-copolymers.

MeSH terms

Azo Compounds / chemistry
Dynamic Light Scattering
Light*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

Azo Compounds
Polymers
Polyethylene Glycols
azobenzene