Photo-control of the electronic states of Iron coordinated to photo-responsive polyaniline

Fe3+ doped polyaniline (PANI) films containing azobenzene derivatives in the side chain have been prepared. Photoisomerization of the azobenzene derivative in the PANI films was observed at room temperature. Furthermore, 57Fe Mössbauer measurements showed that the ligand–metal bond distance and the symmetry around the Fe3+ were influenced by the photoisomerization.