Reversible optical storage utilizing photoinduced reorientation of azobenzene derivatives in organized films

Study of photochromic materials has received attention for application in optical data storage and optical switching. Among numerous photochromic materials azobenzene derivatives are popular due to photoisomerization. The effect of modification of the structure of azobenzene molecule by a variety of functional groups on photoisomerization is studied in self-assembled monolayers (SAM), Langmuir-Blodgett films (LB) and doped polymer films of a host guest system (HG).