Photoactuation and thermal isomerisation mechanism of cyanoazobenzene-based liquid crystal elastomers

4-Alkoxy-4'-cyanoazobenzenes are organic chromophores with great applicability within present nano-technology. However, the use of such azo dyes for obtaining light-triggered artificial muscle-like actuators remains still unexplored. Achieving further knowledge about the thermal back reaction and isomerisation mechanism for these types of azoderivatives is essential to get photo-actuators with the desired abilities. Despite the push-pull nature of the 4-alkoxy-4'-cyanoazobenzene chromophore, it has been experimentally demonstrated that it isomerises via an inversion mechanism. The opto-mechanics of the prepared elastomeric material has also been investigated. For this system, a maximum opto-mechanical response of ca. 2.5 kPa has been registered, which is independent of the working temperature of the photoactuator.