title: Photoinduced chirality in azobenzene-containing polymer systems.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Tokyo Institute of Technology, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors.forename: Suk-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawauchi
authors.forename: Na Young
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takezoe