Reversible on-off photo-switching of hydrogen bonding for self-assembled fibers comprising physical gels

We report on photo-stimulated reversible association and dissociation of hydrogen bonding for self-assembled fibers comprising physical gels. The gels are formed by a hydrogen-bonded gelator containing photochromic azobenzene moieties. The photoswitching of hydrogen bonding is caused by the changes of molecular polarity for the azobenzene moieties.