Layer-by-layer deposited organic/inorganic hybrid multilayer films containing noncentrosymmetrically orientated azobenzene chromophores.

Organic/inorganic hybrid multilayer films with noncentrosymmetrically orientated azobenzene chromophores were fabricated by the sequential deposition of ZrO2 layers by a surface sol-gel process and subsequent layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption of the nonlinear optical (NLO)-active azobenzene-containing polyanion PAC-azoBNS and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). Noncentrosymmetric orientation of the NLO-active azobenzene chromophores was achieved because of the strong repulsion between the negatively charged ZrO(2) and the sulfonate groups of the azobenzene chromophore in PAC-azoBNS. Regular deposition of ZrO(2)/PAC-azoBNS/PDDA multilayer films was verified by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance measurements.

A facile room temperature layer-by-layer deposition process for the fabrication of ultrathin films with noncentrosymmetrically oriented azobenzene chromophores.

Ultrathin films with noncentrosymmetrically orientated azobenzene chromophores were constructed using a combination of layer-by-layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes and the surface sol-gel process.

Robust ion-permselective multilayer films prepared by photolysis of polyelectrolyte multilayers containing photo-cross-linkable and photolabile groups.

The azobenzene-containing polyanion PAC-azoBNS was alternately assembled with the polycation diazoresin (DAR) to construct photo-cross-linkable multilayer films of PAC-azoBNS/DAR that contain photolabile groups of azobenzene. Upon mild UV irradiation, the interaction between PAC-azoBNS/DAR multilayers was converted from electrostatic interaction to covalent bonds. Because of the free carboxylic acid groups presented in the film, the photo-cross-linked multilayer film favors the selective permeation of positively charged species.