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Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

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Invited Article

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007, 9, 3671 - 3682, DOI: 10.1039/b702835k


Photoinduced chirality in azobenzene-containing polymer systems

Suk-Won Choi, Susumu Kawauchi, Na Young Ha and Hideo Takezoe


In this article, we will review the phenomena on circularly-polarized-light (CPL)-induced chirality in polymeric systems with photochromophores in their side-chain or main-chain. In the side-chain polymeric systems, the photoinduced chirality arises from superstructural chirality, i.e., helix structure, via aggregating of achiral azobenzene molecules in side chains. On the other hand, in the main-chain polymeric system, the macroscopically induced chirality can originate from individual chirality of chromophores in their main-chain backbone. The CPL irradiation on polymeric films with photochromophores to produce macroscopic chirality has been realized as potentially useful in the development of optical-switching, optical-storage, and light-driven devices.

Graphical abstract image for this article  (ID: b702835k)