Research work · 2011
Photo‐Switchable Surface Topologies in Chiral Nematic Coatings
Danqing Liu, Cees W. M. Bastiaansen, Jaap M. J. den Toonder, Dirk Jan Broer
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Abstract
An enlightening answer: Dynamic surface photo-responsive topologies of a polymer coating were realized by introducing azobenzene crosslinkers into liquid-crystal polymer networks (see picture). The principle of these coatings is based on breaking the molecular order in the liquid-crystal polymer networks. Under irradiation of UV light the azobenzene compound isomerizes from the trans to the cis conformation.