Synthesis and Photoresponsive Behaviors of Two Side-Chain Azo Polyelectrolytesx

Synthesis and Photoresponsive Behaviors of Two Side-Chain Azo Polyelectrolytesx Abstract Two different methods were employed to synthesize two side-chain azo polyelectrolytes, poly(2-[4-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)phenoxy]ethyl acrylate) (PAC-CAPE) and poly(2-[4-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)phenoxy]ethyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) (PCAPE). PAC-CAPE was prepared through free radical polymerization while PCAPE was synthesized by past functionalization of a very reactive precursor poly(acryloyl chloride) with 2-[4-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)phenoxy] ethanol. Different methods resulted in great difference of molecular weight and architecture of these two obtained polyelectrolytes. Photoresponsive behaviors of these two polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution and self-assembled multilayers were investigated and compared. Both of them have good pH-sensitive and photoresponsive as well as the self-assembly properties. Experimental results showed that the great differences in structure had some influence on the photobehaviors of azo polyelectrolytes. Keywords: azo polyelectrolytes; photoresponsive behavior; self-assembly multilayers