Optically induced surface gratings on azoaromatic polymer films

Abstract

The surface of an azoaromatic polymer film is optically altered to produce local highly efficient diffraction gratings. The gratings obtained are stable but can be erased by heating the polymer above its glass transition temperature and no permanent damage of the film is observed. Multiple gratings can be simultaneously written and gratings can be overwritten. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the gratings produced on the surfaces. Possible mechanisms responsible for the surface alteration are discussed.

Photoinduced reorientation and polarization holography in a new photopolymer with 4-methoxy-N-benzylideneaniline side groups

“…Additionally, holographic exposure often results in surface relief (SR) formation due to the periodic photoisomerization of the azobenzene molecules with varying degrees of photoreaction as well as the polarization conditions of the exposure light beam. [8][9][10][11][12] Unfortunately, azobenzene-containing materials cannot be used in display applications because they are colored in visible region.…”

Optical and Physical Applications of Photocontrollable Materials: Azobenzene-Containing and Liquid Crystalline Polymers

“…This phenomenon is known as photoinduced surface relief (PSR) formation, and intensive studies have been performed since the first report in 1995 [105,106]. PSR formation originates in optically driven large scale mass transport, but does not involve thermal effects, ablation or irreversible photochemical reactions.…”

“…A distributed fringe structure has been inscribed using a diffraction pattern from a knife edge [105,118]. The pitch of the fringe included in the structure varied from about 10 μm to a submicron.…”

Template-assisted self-assembly of colloidal crystals

“…The template consisted of an azo-polymer which was illuminated by an interference pattern of a laser at a wavelength close to the absorption maximum of the polymer [9], see Fig. 1.…”