Dynamic wetting of self-assembled monolayers and polymer brushes functionalized with photoresponsive arylazopyrazoles

分子光开关是一种独特的分子类型，可以在光照射下在两种异构体（形状）之间可逆地切换。由于分子光开关的两种异构体具有不同的性质，因此将光开关掺入到材料和涂层中可以产生诸如光开关稳定性、透气性或润湿性等宏观效应。在这个项目中，我们将研究一种新型的分子光开关来制备具有光响应性润湿性的表面。由于优化的分子设计，光开关可以在分子单层中自组装或嵌入聚合物刷纳米膜中，具有增强的动态润湿性。

Molecular photoswitches are a unique type of molecules that can be switched reversibly between two isomers (shapes) upon irradiation with light. Since the two isomers of the molecular photoswitch have different properties, incorporation of photoswitches into materials and coatings can result in macroscopic effects such as photoswitchable stability, permeability, or wettability. In this project we will investigate a new type of molecular photoswitch to prepare surfaces with photoresponsive wettability. Due to optimized molecular design, the photoswitch can be self-assembled in molecular monolayers or embedded in polymer brush nanofilms with enhanced dynamic wettability.