New photosensitive ultrathin films fabricated by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique

A new hybrid LB film composed of an azobenzene-based photochromic layer (the host) and a p-phenylenediacrylic acid-based photosensitive layer (the guest) has been fabricated. The host was demonstrated to regulate the photoreaction kinetics of the guest during UV illumination. The photoresponses of the relevant guest chromophores were verified to be very sensitive to the intermolecular bonding state during the course of the illumination. Both the conversion factor (and its sensitivity) and the insoluble fraction were determined; they imply that such hybrid LB film has a photoresist fingerprint. The photoreactivity of the LB film was explained in terms of a model structure.