Multi-Responsive Electropolymer Surface Coatings based on Azo Molecular Switches and Carbazoles: Light, pH and Electrochemical Control of Z → E Isomerization in Thin Films

Light-responsive surfaces are attracting increasing interest, not least because their physicochemical properties can be selectively and temporally controlled by a non-invasive stimulus. Most existing immobilization strategies involve the chemical attachment of light-responsive moieties to the surfac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemistry : a European journal 2023-11, Vol.29 (63), p.e202302215-e202302215
Main Authors: Gibalova, Anna, Kortekaas, Luuk, Simke, Julian, Ravoo, Bart Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbazole
Carbazoles
Chemistry
Coatings
Electrochemistry
Immobilization
Inhomogeneity
Isomerization
Macromolecules
Molecular machines
Monomers
Photochemicals
Physicochemical properties
Polymerization
Switches
Thin films
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Summary:Light-responsive surfaces are attracting increasing interest, not least because their physicochemical properties can be selectively and temporally controlled by a non-invasive stimulus. Most existing immobilization strategies involve the chemical attachment of light-responsive moieties to the surface, although this approach often suffers from a low surface concentration of active species or a high inhomogeneity of applied coatings. Herein we present electropolymerization of carbazoles as a facile and rapid approach for preparing light-responsive azo-based surface coatings. The electrochemical oxidative polymerization of bis-carbazole containing azo-monomers yields stable films in which the photochemical properties and specific pH sensitivity of azo molecular switches are retained. Moreover, the molecular design enables electrocatalytic control over Z → E azo double bond isomerization facilitated by the conductive polycarbazole backbone. Ultimately, the high degree of control over macromolecular properties yields conductive surface coatings responsive to a range of stimuli, showing great promise as a strategy for versatile application in organic electronics.
ISSN:0947-6539
1521-3765
DOI:10.1002/chem.202302215