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Azo Polymer Microspheres with Photo‐Manipulated Surface and Topographic Structure
Author(s) -
Zhou Xinran,
Du Yi,
Wang Xiaogong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201500435
Subject(s) - polymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , methacrylate , methyl methacrylate , gel permeation chromatography , composite material , engineering
A methacrylate‐based copolymer containing side‐chain push–pull azo chromophores and adamantyl groups is synthesized and characterized by 1 H NMR, DSC, thermal gravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and UV–vis. By exploiting its good solubility in a water‐immiscible solvent (dichloromethane), azo polymer microspheres are fabricated through the solution dispersion method. Surface relief structures are inscribed on the microsphere surfaces upon exposure to the interference pattern of laser beams at 532 nm. Meanwhile, the shape of the microspheres is stable upon the light irradiation, which is distinct from the submicron‐scale colloidal spheres of azo polymers. By using camphene as a porogen, microspheres with the well‐developed porous structures are prepared. For the first time, it is observed that pores on the azo polymer microspheres can be modified or even selectively closed upon irradiation with a linearly polarized laser beam.