Photomechanical effect of azobenzene thin polymer films measured with an AFM cantilever based sensor

Zahid S. Mahimwalla; Yoshihiko Ngai; Christopher J. Barrett

doi:10.1117/12.855516

10 May 2010 Photomechanical effect of azobenzene thin polymer films measured with an AFM cantilever based sensor

Zahid S. Mahimwalla, Yoshihiko Ngai, Christopher J. Barrett

Proceedings Volume 7712, Nanophotonics III; 771217 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.855516
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2010, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Herein we present the characterization of the photomechanical effect of thin films of azobenzene based polymers PDR1A, PDR13A and PMMA-co-PDR1A using an AFM based sensor. The polymers were coated on silicon and mica cantilevers, and the cantilever bending and surface stress changes were characterized. We have shown that the photoisomerization results in fast and significant cantilever bending ranging from 50-313 μm and changes in surface stresses ranging from 96 to 568 N/m for PDR1A coated mica cantilevers. The photomechanical effect was shown to be robust and repeatable. Of all the polymers studied, PDR1A exerted the largest forces with variations in solvent presence, main chain modification and chromophore modification, all reducing the change in surface stress in order of increasing impact. The utility of this new sensor in the understanding and characterization of the photomechanical effect of azobenzene based polymers is demonstrated.

Citation Download Citation

Zahid S. Mahimwalla, Yoshihiko Ngai, and Christopher J. Barrett "Photomechanical effect of azobenzene thin polymer films measured with an AFM cantilever based sensor", Proc. SPIE 7712, Nanophotonics III, 771217 (10 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.855516

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