Influence of wavelength of light on photoinduced orientation of azobenzene-containing polymethacrylate film

Influence of the wavelength of linearly polarized (LP) light on the generation of photoinduced optical anisotropy of E- and Z-isomers of a polymethacrylate which comprises 4-methoxyazobenzene side groups was investigated using LP 313 nm, 365 nm, 405 nm, 436 nm, 532 nm, and 633 nm lights. Different photoisomerization and molecular reorientation behavior were observed depending on the wavelength of the light. Large in-plane orientation was achieved by the use of LP 313 and LP 532 nm lights. The ratio of the absorbance between E- and Z-isomers plays an important role in the photoinduced orientation behavior.