This book reviews the cutting-edge significant research in the field of smart light-responsive materials based on azobenzene polymers and liquid crystals. Emphasis is placed on the discovery of new phenomena from the past 5 years, their underlying mechanisms, new functionalities, and properties achieved through rational design. Edited by leading authorities in the field, Zhao and Ikeda, the chapters are authored by an internationally-recognized team of experts from North America, Europe, and Asia. Smart Light-Responsive Materials will serve to catalyze new research that will lead this field over the next 5-10 years.
Opens the door to promising new light-enabled
smart materials and their applications
Examining the most promising developments, this contributed work reviews smart light-responsive materials based on azobenzene polymers and liquid crystals. The book explores the underlying mechanisms of azobenzene polymers and liquid crystals, highlighting new functionalities and properties that have been realized through rational design. Moreover, the book provides insight into new and emerging light-enabled smart materials and their applications, particularly in the fields of photonics and optics.
Edited by two leading authorities in the field, this book features an internationally recognized team of expert authors. Contributions are based on the authors' firsthand experience in the lab as well as their thorough investigation of the literature. Highlights of coverage include:
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Photo-induced phenomena in supramolecular azobenzene materials
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Amorphous azobenzene polymers for light-induced surface patterning
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Light-responsive 2-D motions and manipulations in azobenzene-containing liquid crystalline polymer materials
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Photo-tuning of the helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals
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Azobenzene block copolymers in the solid state
Among the materials covered are light-bendable elastomers, light-dissociable polymer micelles, light-controllable emulsions, liquid crystal/polymer composites, and colloids.
Smart Light-Responsive Materials not only presents the state of the technology, it also serves as a catalyst for the development of new light-enabled materials and applications. In addition to benefiting researchers who work on azobenzene polymers and liquid crystals, the book is also recommended for any researcher involved in developing light-responsive materials as many of the strategies from the book can be adapted to other chromophores.
About the Author
Yue Zhao, PhD, is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sherbrooke. With more than 100 publications to his credit, Dr. Zhao's research interests center on the design, synthesis, and applications of new polymer and liquid-crystalline materials. He has worked on specific applications of light-responsive materials, self-assembled materials, and nanostructured materials for liquid crystal displays, controlled drug delivery, and tunable optical devices.
Tomiki Ikeda, PhD, is Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Professor Ikeda is a leading authority in light-responsive materials and liquid-crystalline materials. Professor Ikeda's research interests focus on photomobile polymer materials, photodeformable smart materials based on azobenzene liquid-crystalline elastomers, and electroluminescent liquid-crystalline materials. He has more than 400 publications to his credit.
