Azobenzenes can undergo photoisomerization, therefore systems incorporating these chromophores present light-switchable properties. The reversible photoisomerization from the trans to the cis form is accompanied by several changes at the molecular level. Differences in the absorption spectrum, polarity and structure between the two isomers have been used in various systems to fine-tune other properties of these systems with light. The present work reviews physical properties that can be photomodulated in polymers functionalised with azobenzenes. Emphasis is put on electric and magnetic properties, structural changes, surface properties, binding activity, complexation, stereochemistry, ion permeability and enzyme activity. The second part of the thesis details experimental investigations about the photoresponsive behaviour of thin films of polyelectrolytes containing azobenzenes. Namely, poly(allyl amine hydrochloride) was self-assembled with a synthetic random copolymer of acrylic acid and disperse red 1. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.29491 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | El Halabieh, Rola |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Chemistry.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001956064, proquestno: MQ85841, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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