PB10 Photoorientation mechanism of microphase separated cylinder in liquid crystalline azobenzene block copolymer films by real space observation

Abstract

We synthesized diblock copolymers consisting of poly(buthyl methacrylate) (PBMA) unit and azobenzene (Az)-containing poly(methacrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization method. The spin-coating films of PBMA-b-PAz were irradiated with polarized visible light at LC temperature. Orientation of azobenzene chromophore were investigated by polarization spectroscopy. The resulting films exhibited monoaxial orientation of microphase separated structure in thin films. We observed the cross-sectional profiles of the thin films by TEM. We will discuss the photoorientation process of microphase separated structure.