Light-responsive self-assembly of a cationic azobenzene surfactant at high concentration

Soft Matter. 2020 Oct 21;16(40):9183-9187. doi: 10.1039/d0sm01512a.

Abstract

The formation of high-concentration mesophases by a cationic azobenzene photosurfactant is described for the first time. Using a combination of polarised optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, optically anisotropic, self-assembled structures with long-range order are reported. The mesophases are disrupted or lost upon UV irradiation.