title: Nanoparticle organization through photoinduced bulk mass transfer.
abstract: A series of dipolar triphenylaminoazo derivatives, with largely distinct charge transfer and glass transition temperatures, has been synthesized. Their photomigration capability in the solid state to form surface relief gratings (SRGs) under interferential illumination has been investigated with respect to their photochromic properties and showed a prevailing influence of the bulkiness of the azo substituent. The azo mass transfer was utilized to efficiently photoalign 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles along the SRG crests, which were initially deposited on nonirradiated azo surfaces. In contrast, nanoparticles spin cast on prestructured surface relief gratings were localized in the troughs of the periodic structures. These distinct locations point out the ability of isotropic and amorphous photochromic thin films to collectively move and organize nano-objects in an ordered fashion through the use of polarized illumination. This versatile approach opens the path to optically aligned ensembles of individual nano-objects over large areas, which can be further combined with metallic conductive or magnetic coating to create novel functional nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: CEISAM-UMR CNRS 6230, Université de Nantes , 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Snell
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stéphant
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pansu
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Audibert
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lagugné-Labarthet
authors.forename: Eléna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishow