Azobenzene-containing monolayer with photoswitchable wettability.
A compact monolayer containing azobenzene has been prepared on silicon substrates. The elaboration route consisted of covalent grafting of freshly synthesized azobenzene moieties onto an isocyanate-functionalized self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The highly packed and ordered isocyanate-functionalized SAM and the azobenzene-functionalized SAM were monitored and characterized by contact angle measurements and X-ray reflectivity (XR). Photoswitching of the wettability of the film induced by the reversible cis-trans isomerization of the azobenzene chromophores is experimentally shown from water and olive oil contact angle measurements.
Delorme
N
N
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Etat Condensé (CNRS, UMR 6087) and Laboratoire Polymères, Colloïdes et Interfaces (CNRS, UMR 6120), Université du Maine, Avenue O. Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 09, France.
Bardeau
J-F
JF
Bulou
A
A
Poncin-Epaillard
F
F