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Optical switching behavior of azobenzene/PMMA blends with high chromophore concentration

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Abstract

In this article, the authors will present a simple way to produce thin solid organic films, with a content of more than 60 wt% photoactive molecules dispersed in a polymeric matrix showing an almost complete and fully reversible photoisomerization. These high filling factors could be achieved by using branched side chains in the molecules, which prevent crystallization. The chromophores were codissolved with the polymer Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) of different M w in toluene in various concentrations and spin casted onto the substrate. The effect of the Mw of PMMA on the switching kinetics and the agglomeration tendency of different molecule configurations were investigated.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the DFG for funding this project as part of the collaborative research center 677-Function by switching (project C1). Furthermore, we want to thank Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Rehders for his support in any technical question.

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Correspondence to Franz Faupel.

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Pakula, C., Hanisch, C., Zaporojtchenko, V. et al. Optical switching behavior of azobenzene/PMMA blends with high chromophore concentration. J Mater Sci 46, 2488–2494 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-010-5097-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-010-5097-9

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