New Photoresponsive Poly(meth)acrylates Bearing Azobenzene Moieties Obtained via ATRP Polymerization Exhibiting Liquid-Crystalline Behavior

Here, we report our studies on photoresponsive poly(meth)acrylates containing azobenzene groups connected to a polymer backbone via a short methylene linker. A series of side-chain azobenzene polymers was synthesized via the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique using several catalytic systems. The polymers synthesized under the optimized conditions were characterized by a narrow polydispersity (Đ ≤ 1.35), and they underwent a reversible transformation of their structure under light illumination. The fabricated polymers can store and release energy accumulated during the UV-light illumination by the thermal cis-trans isomerization of the chromophore groups. The enthalpy of the process (determined from DSC) was relatively high and equaled 61.9 J∙g(−1) (17 Wh∙kg(−1)), indicating a high potential of these materials in energy storage applications. The liquid-crystalline behavior of the synthesized poly(meth)acrylates was demonstrated by the birefringent optical textures as observed in thin-films and X-ray scattering studies.