Azobenzene is a very interesting photochromic molecule, which can be switched quickly and reversibly between 2 geometric forms using light. The cis and trans geometric isomers can display very different physical, chemical, optical, and electronic properties, and thus materials incorporating azobenzene have received much recent interest as molecular photoswitches, sensors, actuators, and other related 'smart' materials and surfaces. The purpose of this symposium is to bring together scientists from the various fields of polymers, liquid crystals, SAMS, surfaces, thin films, and device nanotechnology, who are all working with azobenzene in various host materials and for various reversible switching applications. The focus will be equally placed on preparation methods to introduce the azo functionality into interesting materials (polymer, liquid crystal, and small molecule), and on the study of the photoswitchable properties which are common to the various materials and applications. This proposed symposium continues from a very successful similar symposia on azobenzene polymers from previous Pacifichem meetings, but now expanded to include non-polymeric materials, and to broaden the focus to include the most recently pursued applications in surface switching and photo-mechanics. |
