Chiral polymers with photoaffected phase behaviour for photo-optical and optoelectronic applications

The chiral side chain polymethacrylates functionalised with photochromic azodye comonomer units allow for two different types of photorecording techniques. The conventional photo-optical recording with polarised light results in holographic gratings with the diffraction efficiency, η, as high as 30%. Moreover, a hidden image can be written with UV light and then developed with polarised visible light. On the other hand, the repeatable printing of transmission, birefringence, and conductivity patterns in the copolymer films can be performed using the photoaffected phase behaviour of certain copolymers.