Photoswitchable Dynamicity in Azobenzene-Based Elastomers While Maintaining Mechanical Robustness
발표자
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초록
내용
Azobenzene, the most widely studied photoswitchable molecule, undergoes reversible isomerization upon exposure with specific wavelengths of light. Our research is developing novel photoswitchable elastomer system based on azobenzene moiety and supramolecular hydrogen bonding that were physically crosslinked into flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone. Here, we report the reversible light-based modulation of the dynamic mechanical properties of an azobenzene-based thermoplastic elastomer. To the best of our knowledge, no previous reports demonstrate reversible photoswitching of dynamic mechanical properties such as self-healing properties without compromising mechanical robustness. It is very meaningful to identify the dynamic behavior of the molecular motif and to lead to great developments in the field of photoswitchable polymer systems in the future.