Photochemical behavior and formation of surface relief grating on self-assembled polyion/dye composite film

Holographic surface relief gratings (SRGs) were fabricated on composite fil ms assembled by electrostatic layer-by-layer (ELBL) deposition of a polyele ctrolyte, poly(dimethyl diallylammonium chloride) (PDAC), and an azo dye, C ongo Red (CR). Surface modulation and first-order diffraction efficiency of the SRG were found to increase with the thickness of the PDAC/CR films. Po larized absorption spectra indicated an oriented growth of CR on the PDAC f ilm. Analysis of the film thickness, FTIR, and FT-Raman results confirmed t hat the electrostatic attraction between CR and PDAC, as well as the pi-pi interaction between CR chromophores resulting in the formation of J aggrega tes, lead to formation of PDAC/CR composite films. Photochemical changes of the PDAC/CR films after irradiation were investigated by W-vis absorption, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that in addition to trans double left right arrow cis photoisomerization of CR in the composite film, an irreversible photochemical degradation of CR also simultaneously occurs. Recording SRG on PDAC/CR films by s- and p-polarized beams show dif ferent behavior compared to spin-coated films of polymers containing functi onalized azo chromophores. Our results indicate that the volume collapse du e to the photodegradation of CR in the polymeric matrix, as well as gradien t force-induced migration due to trans double left right arrow cis isomeriz ation cycling of CR contribute to the formation of SRG on the composite fil ms. This approach provides a methodology to fabricate SRGs for optical info rmation storage applications by using the facile ELBL technique to assemble commercially available azo dyes and polyelectrolytes.