Photoinduced optical anisotropy in azobenzene containing block copolymer–homopolymer blends. Influence of microstructure and molecular weight

Microstructure in two diblock methacrylic azo polymers and in some of their blends with PMMA of different molecular weights as well as their photoinduced anisotropy have been investigated. The block copolymers have similar structure but different azo content and degree of polymerization. A synthetic strategy based on a controlled radical polymerization (ATRP) of polymeric blocks and their coupling by click chemistry has been applied to obtain an azo block copolymer of high molecular weight. Microphase segregation has been observed in the block copolymers and in most of the blends. In blends of the block copolymer with lower degree of polymerization (Block 1) azo microdomains change from lamellar to spherical morphology when the azo content decreases from 24 to 3 wt.%. In the block copolymer with higher degree of polymerization (Block 2) and its blends, down to 3 wt.% azo content, spherical azo microdomains have been found. A decrease of the order parameter (η) and the photoinduced birefringence normalized to the azo content (|Δn|norm) has been found in blends of Block 1 when the azo content decreases. However, |Δn|norm and η values similar to those in the azo homopolymer have been observed in Block 2 and its blends. These blends can be used to lower the azo content while keeping a photoinduced response similar to that in the azo homopolymer.

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► A high molecular weight block copolymer has been synthesized by ATRP and click chemistry.
► Dilution of azo content by blending.
► Control of microstructure from lamellar to spherical by blending.
► Good optical response in blends of high molecular weight block copolymers.