Photoanisotropy in polarization-sensitive polymer materials based on the media with covalently-bonded components

The well-known scalar photochromism phenomenon is a reversible phototransformation of chemical species between two forms having different absorption spectra. It is observed under the action of actinic light regardless of its polarization state. Unlike this in some high-efficient polarization-sensitive azopolymeric materials, we have observed a well-developed vector polyphotochromism which appears as a light-induced area with spectral selectivity for the linearly polarized probing beams. A sharp change in the transmission spectrum of the material have been observed when we placed an irradiated area of the sample between crossed polarizers, while the transmission spectrum of the sample remained practically unchanged in case of probing by unpolarized light. The effect has a purely vector nature, while the transmission spectrum of the exposed material essentially changes in case of observing between crossed polarizers and the change in the spectrum unambiguously depends on the energy exposure. A significant dependence of the kinetic of the vector polyphotochromism induction on the power density of linearly polarized actinic light (445 nm) is shown for probing beam of 635 nm. It is also shown that the kinetics of the effect depends on the photosensitive layer thickness and the concentration of the chromophore. The experiments were carried out for two synthesized side-chain azopolymers obtained as immobilized polar azo dyes on polymethylmethacrylate backbone. It is clearly shown a light-controlled spectral selectivity of the sample activated by the various doses of the stimulating radiation.