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Polymers
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Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials
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Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2019) | Viewed by 28150

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Milagros Piñol

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón (ICMA), Universidad de Zaragoza‒CSIC, c/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: polymer chemistry; stimuli responsive polymers; polymeric nanocarriers
Prof. Dr. Luis Oriol

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón (ICMA), Universidad de Zaragoza‒CSIC, c/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: functional polymers; polymers for biomedicine; block copolymers for optical and biomedical applications

Special Issue Information

Functional polymers having a programmed response to light have emerged as promising materials of interest in different applications mainly related with optical technologies or light triggered delivery systems. The design of photoresponsive polymers requires of photosensitive moieties that might go through any modification on their chemical structure by irradiation with proper light. Polymers based on coumarin, ortho-nitrobenzyl, spyropyran or azobenzene derivatives are representative examples of these materials. Initial research was boosted by the envisaged applications on optical storage, although recent applications on actuators for soft robotics or light controlled and triggered drug-delivery of polymeric nanocontainers have attracted attention of polymer and materials research community.

Keywords

  • photoresponsive materials
  • light-controlled release
  • smart surfaces
  • optical switches
  • photoactuators
  • optical recording
  • photoalignment
  • photonic materials

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4910 KiB  
Article
Photoresponsive Photoacid-Macroion Nano-Assemblies
by Alexander Zika, Sarah Bernhardt and Franziska Gröhn
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081746 - 5 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3043
Abstract
In this study, light-responsive nano-assemblies with light-switchable size based on photoacids are presented. Anionic disulfonated napthol derivates and cationic dendrimer macroions are used as building blocks for electrostatic self-assembly. Nanoparticles are already formed under the exclusion of light as a result of electrostatic [...] Read more.
In this study, light-responsive nano-assemblies with light-switchable size based on photoacids are presented. Anionic disulfonated napthol derivates and cationic dendrimer macroions are used as building blocks for electrostatic self-assembly. Nanoparticles are already formed under the exclusion of light as a result of electrostatic interactions. Upon photoexcitation, an excited-state dissociation of the photoacidic hydroxyl group takes place, which leads to a more highly charged linker molecule and, subsequently, to a change in size and structure of the nano-assemblies. The effects of the charge ratio and the concentration on the stability have been examined with absorption spectroscopy and ζ-potential measurements. The influence of the chemical structure of three isomeric photoacids on the size and shape of the nanoscale aggregates has been studied by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy, revealing a direct correlation of the strength of the photoacid with the changes of the assemblies upon irradiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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8 pages, 958 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Optical Switching Characteristics of Organic Phototransistor by Adopting Photo-Responsive Polymer in Hybrid Gate-Insulator Configuration
by Hea-Lim Park, Min-Hoi Kim and Hyeok Kim
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030527 - 1 Mar 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2788
Abstract
In this study, we developed polymer gate insulator-based organic phototransistors (p-OPTs) with improved optical switching properties by using a hybrid gate insulator configuration. The hybrid gate insulator of our p-OPT has a photoresponsive layer made of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP), which enhances the photoresponse, and [...] Read more.
In this study, we developed polymer gate insulator-based organic phototransistors (p-OPTs) with improved optical switching properties by using a hybrid gate insulator configuration. The hybrid gate insulator of our p-OPT has a photoresponsive layer made of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP), which enhances the photoresponse, and an interfacial layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) for reliable optical switching of the device. Our hybrid gate insulator-equipped p-OPT exhibits well-defined optical switching characteristics because no specific type of charge is significantly trapped at an interfacial layer/organic semiconductor (OSC) interface. Moreover, our device is more photoresponsive than the conventional p-OPT (here, an OPT with a single-polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) gate insulator), because the characteristic ultraviolet (UV) absorption of the PVP polymer allows the photoresponsive layer and OSC to contribute to the generation of charge carriers when exposed to UV light. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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17 pages, 6713 KiB  
Article
Photo-Actuation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Materials Doped with Visible Absorber Dyes under Quasi-Daylight
by Ban Qin, Wenlong Yang, Jiaojiao Xu, Xiuxiu Wang, Xiangman Li, Chensha Li, Yachen Gao and Qiao-e Wang
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010054 - 31 Dec 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3564
Abstract
We studied the effect of visible absorber dyes on the photo-actuation performances of liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) materials under quasi-daylight irradiation. The dye-doped LCE materials were prepared through infiltrating visible absorber dyes into a polysiloxane-based LCE matrix based on its solvent-swollen characteristic. They [...] Read more.
We studied the effect of visible absorber dyes on the photo-actuation performances of liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) materials under quasi-daylight irradiation. The dye-doped LCE materials were prepared through infiltrating visible absorber dyes into a polysiloxane-based LCE matrix based on its solvent-swollen characteristic. They demonstrated well absorption properties in visible spectrum range and performed strong actuation upon the irradiation from quasi-daylight source, thus indicating that the presence of visible absorber dyes effectively sensitized the LCE materials to light irradiation since the light energy was absorbed by the dyes and then converted into heat to trigger the phase change of LCE matrix. The photo-actuation properties of dye-doped LCE materials with different visible absorber dyes, varied dye contents, and irradiation intensities were investigated. It was shown that the visible absorber dyes with different absorption bands created different photo-actuation performances of LCE materials, the one whose absorption band is near the intensity peak position of quasi-daylight spectrum created the optimum photo-actuation performance. The result disclosed a valuable light utilization way for photo-controlled LCE materials since it revealed that a light-absorbing dye, whose absorption band is in the high intensity region of light spectrum, is capable of effectively utilizing light energy to drive the actuation of LCE materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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19 pages, 6072 KiB  
Article
Polymeric Self-Assemblies Based on tetra-ortho-Substituted Azobenzene as Visible Light Responsive Nanocarriers
by Alejandro Roche, Luis Oriol, Rosa M. Tejedor and Milagros Piñol
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11122060 - 11 Dec 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2824
Abstract
Most of reported polymeric light-responsive nanocarriers make use of UV light to trigger morphological changes and the subsequent release of encapsulated cargoes. Moving from UV- to visible-responsive units is interesting for the potential biomedical applications of these materials. Herein we report the synthesis [...] Read more.
Most of reported polymeric light-responsive nanocarriers make use of UV light to trigger morphological changes and the subsequent release of encapsulated cargoes. Moving from UV- to visible-responsive units is interesting for the potential biomedical applications of these materials. Herein we report the synthesis by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of a series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers, into which either UV or visible responsive azobenzenes have been introduced via copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). These copolymers are able to self-assemble into spherical micelles or vesicles when dispersed in water. The study of the response of the self-assemblies upon UV (365 nm) or visible (530 or 625 nm) light irradiation has been studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) studies. Encapsulation of Nile Red, in micelles and vesicles, and Rhodamine B, in vesicles, and its light-stimulated release has been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. Appreciable morphological changes have been induced with green light, and the subsequent release of encapsulated cargoes upon green light irradiation has been confirmed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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13 pages, 2552 KiB  
Article
Opposite Self-Folding Behavior of Polymeric Photoresponsive Actuators Enabled by a Molecular Approach
by Daniele Martella, Sara Nocentini, Diego Antonioli, Michele Laus, Diederik S. Wiersma and Camilla Parmeggiani
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101644 - 10 Oct 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3054
Abstract
The ability to obtain 3D polymeric objects by a 2D-to-3D shape-shifting method is very appealing for polymer integration with different materials, from metals in electronic devices to cells in biological studies. Such functional reshaping can be achieved through self-folding driven by a strain [...] Read more.
The ability to obtain 3D polymeric objects by a 2D-to-3D shape-shifting method is very appealing for polymer integration with different materials, from metals in electronic devices to cells in biological studies. Such functional reshaping can be achieved through self-folding driven by a strain pattern designed into the molecular network. Among polymeric materials, liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) present an anisotropic molecular structure that can be exploited to tailor internal strain, resulting in a natural non-planar geometry when prepared in the form of flat films. In this article, we analyze the influence of different molecular parameters of the monomers on the spontaneous shape of the polymeric films and their deformation under different stimuli, such as heating or light irradiation. Modifying the alkilic chains of the crosslinkers is a simple and highly effective way to increase the temperature sensitivity of the final actuator, while modifying ester orientation on the aromatic core interestingly acts on the bending direction. Combining such effects, we have demonstrated that LCN stripes made of different monomeric mixtures originate complex non-symmetric deformation under light activation, thus opening up new applications in photonic and robotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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16 pages, 2927 KiB  
Article
Hydrogen Bonding-Induced Assembled Structures and Photoresponsive Behavior of Azobenzene Molecule/Polyethylene Glycol Complexes
by Hsin-Tzu Tai, Yen-Chun Lin, Jing-Yao Ma and Chieh-Tsung Lo
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081360 - 16 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4318
Abstract
We investigated the self-assembled structures and photoresponsive and crystallization behaviors of supramolecules composed of 4-methoxy-4′-hydroxyazobenzene (Azo) molecules and polyethylene glycol (PEG) that were formed through hydrogen-bonding interactions. The Azo/PEG complexes exhibited the characteristics of photoresponse and crystallization, which originated from Azo and PEG, [...] Read more.
We investigated the self-assembled structures and photoresponsive and crystallization behaviors of supramolecules composed of 4-methoxy-4′-hydroxyazobenzene (Azo) molecules and polyethylene glycol (PEG) that were formed through hydrogen-bonding interactions. The Azo/PEG complexes exhibited the characteristics of photoresponse and crystallization, which originated from Azo and PEG, respectively. When Azo/PEG complexes were dissolved in solvents, hydrogen-bonding interaction hindered the rotation and inversion of mesogens, causing a reduction in the photoisomerization rate compared with the photoisomerization rate of the neat Azo. The confinement of Azo/PEG complexes in thin films further resulted in a substantial decrease in the photoisomerization rate but an increase in the amounts of H-aggregated and J-aggregated mesogens. Regarding PEG crystallization, ultraviolet irradiation of Azo/PEG complexes increased the quantity of high-polarity cis isomers, which improved the compatibility between mesogens and PEG, subsequently increasing the crystallization temperature of PEG. Moreover, the complexation of Azo and PEG induced microphase separation, forming a lamellar morphology. Within the Azo-rich microphases, mesogens aggregated to form tilted monosmectic layers. By contrast, PEG crystallization within the PEG-rich microphases was hard confined, indicating that the domain size of the lamellar morphology was unchanged during PEG crystallization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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14 pages, 5574 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Photocontrolled Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Azobenzene-Functionalized Perylene Bisimide Derivatives
by Weikang Ling, Xiaoxiao Cheng, Tengfei Miao, Shuangshuang Zhang, Wei Zhang and Xiulin Zhu
Polymers 2019, 11(7), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071143 - 3 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3895
Abstract
Azobenzene (Azo) units were successfully introduced into perylene bisimide (PBI) structures in order to realize the photocontrolling of the morphology of the supramolecular assembly of PBI by a photoisomerization process. A total of three Azo-functionalized perylene bisimide derivatives (PBI1, PBI2, [...] Read more.
Azobenzene (Azo) units were successfully introduced into perylene bisimide (PBI) structures in order to realize the photocontrolling of the morphology of the supramolecular assembly of PBI by a photoisomerization process. A total of three Azo-functionalized perylene bisimide derivatives (PBI1, PBI2, and PBI3) with different alkyl chain lengths were designed and synthesized by imidization of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride with the corresponding amines. The structures of these compounds were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The photoisomerization behaviors of Azo units in PBIs were investigated using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) absorption spectroscopy, which were obviously effected by solvents and the alkyl chain length. Furthermore, the photoisomerization of Azo units has the obviously regulatory effect on the morphology of supramolecular assembly of PBIs, especially for the medium-length alkyl chain-linked Azo-functionalized PBI derivative (PBI2). This research realized the photocontrolling of the morphology of the supramolecular assembly of PBI derivatives by photoisomerization of Azo units. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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15 pages, 5794 KiB  
Article
Molecular Design of Microcapsule Shells for Visible Light-Triggered Release
by Domenico Pirone, Valentina Marturano, Rita Del Pezzo, Susana Fernández Prieto, Todd Underiner, Marta Giamberini and Bartosz Tylkowski
Polymers 2019, 11(5), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11050904 - 17 May 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3905
Abstract
The development of photo-responsive capsules to tune and control the sustained-release of encapsulated actives is a fascinating and challenging route to improve the performances and effectiveness of a wide range of delivery applications. In this work, we report the preparation of visible light-responsive [...] Read more.
The development of photo-responsive capsules to tune and control the sustained-release of encapsulated actives is a fascinating and challenging route to improve the performances and effectiveness of a wide range of delivery applications. In this work, we report the preparation of visible light-responsive capsules obtained via oil-in-water interfacial polycondensation between modified diacyl-chloride azobenzene moiety and diamine flexible spacer in the presence of cross-linkers with different structures and functionalities. The effect on the release profile of the encapsulated perfume oil was investigated using three flexible spacers with different lengths (1,8-diaminooctane; 1,6-diaminohexane and 1,4-diaminobutane) and two types of cross-linkers (1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride and melamine). We analyzed how the properties of microcapsules can be tailored changing the design of the shell structure. Fine tuning of the perfume release profiles was obtained. The changes in capsules size and morphology due to visible light irradiation were monitored via light scattering, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Perfume release was 50% faster in the systems prepared with melamine as the cross-linker. Modelling studies were carried out to support the discussion of the experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials)
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