Azobenzene's Cross‐Scale Optics and Photonics: Molecular Photoswitching, Mesoscopic Material Motions, and Adaptive Devices
Abstract
ABSTRACT Azobenzene is a widely studied molecular photoswitch that converts light absorption into reversible E/Z isomerization and, when embedded in soft or ordered media, into optical, mechanical, thermal, transport, and bioadaptive functions. This review examines azobenzene optics and photonics through a cross‐scale structure‐property‐function framework. We first summarize the mechanistic landscape of trans–cis isomerization, including π–π* and n–π* excitation, ultrafast relaxation pathways, and molecular design rules that tune absorption wavelength, quantum yield, photostationary state (PSS), and cis‐ state lifetime. We then connect single‐molecule switching to collective responses in azobenzene‐containing materials, including photoalignment and all‐optical poling, stress‐driven surface patterning in amorphous polymers, photomechanics in liquid‐crystalline polymer networks (LCNs) and liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), and phase‐transition‐based responses. On this basis, we organize applications according to their dominant device functions: information processing and reconfigurable photonics, dynamic liquid crystals (LCs) and adaptive optical devices, molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage, mechanical motion and soft robotics, mechanically enabled processing, bioadaptive transport, and opto/iontronic interfaces. The Review emphasizes quantitative links between molecular orientation, stress generation, and macroscopic deformation, and highlights how modeling and materials design can improve visible/red‐light operation, fatigue resistance, penetration depth, manufacturability, and device integration. We close by outlining challenges and opportunities for durable, scalable, and multifunctional azobenzene‐based adaptive photonic matter.
Article Details
Authors (21)
Heeju Son
KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Soyul Kwak
Korea University-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KIST) Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University
Heerin Noh
KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Minsang Kim
Doyeon Noh
Department of Biomicrosystem Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Subhayan Chakraborty
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jaewon Lee
Department of Chemical Engineering
YongDeok Cho
Korea University-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KIST) Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University
Kyeongsoo Kim
Korea University-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KIST) Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University
Taewoong Eom
KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Moonyoung Kim
KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Jangwon Kim
KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul South Korea
Hoyoung Lee
6Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Soyoung Lee
Jaehun Kim
Department of Chemistry Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
Grace G. D. Han
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Shin‐Tson Wu
College of Optics and Photonics University of Central Florida Orlando Florida USA
Stefano Oscurato
Physics Department “E. Pancini” Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo University of Naples “Federico II” Naples Italy
Arri Priimagi
Marina Saphiannikova
Division Theory of Polymers Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden Dresden Germany
Seungwoo Lee
Korea University-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KIST) Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University