PHOTOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF MONOLAYERS OF AZOBENZENE DERIVATIVES

Azobenzene (At) amphiphiles were spread on the water surface. Irradiat ion of UV and visible light on the floating monolayer caused reversibl e expansion and contraction of these film, On/off switching of this ph otoresponse was achieved by chemical stimuli from the water subphase f or a monolayer of a carboxylic acid derivative. Using a polymeric Az m onolayer, photochemical on/off switching of the ''camphor dance'' was feasible, which was the consequence of photoinduced changes in the sur face pressure at a fixed film area.