AZOCHROMOPHORE-FUNCTIONALIZED POLYELECTROLYTES - 1 - SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PHOTOPROCESSING

A series of azobenzene chromophore-functionalized polyelectrolytes hav e been synthesized by a post-azo-coupling reaction. An epoxy-based pre cursor polymer (CH-AN) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,4-cyclohex anedimethanol diglycidyl ether (CH) with aniline(AN). For comparison p urposes, another epoxy-based precursor polymer (BP-AN) was prepared fr om the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BP) and aniline(AN). These pre cursor polymers were then postfunctionalized by an ate-coupling reacti on to form polymers containing donor-acceptor type azo chromophores. T he azo chromophores were designed to contain ionizable groups to impar t self-assembling and photoprocessing capabilities to the polymers. Th e structure and properties of the newly synthesized polymers are repor ted in this paper. CHAN-based azo polymers exhibit typical properties of polyelectrolytes. The polymers containing 4(4-(carboxylic acid)phen ylazo)aniline chromophores can be directly photofabricated to form sur face relief gratings with large surface modulations. Charge interactio ns had a strong influence on the details of the writing process.