Effect of azobenzene composition ratio on the degree of photosoftening: Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation studies

Abstract

Azobenzene-incorporated liquid crystalline polymer (azo-LCP), which undergo property change and deformation upon Ultra violet and visible light stimulation, are promising materials in various fields. This study investigated the effect of azobenzene concentration on photosoftening based on the photoisomerization of an azo-LCP. The experimental results confirmed that as the azobenzene concentration increased, the order parameter decreased and mechanical properties deteriorated. Photoisomerization and photosoftening was also conducted on an azo-LCP unit cell constructed by molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results showed that changes in the order parameter, length contraction and elastic modulus due to the photosoftening, in alignment with the experimental results.