Thermal amplification of photoinduced optical anisotropy of p-cyanoazobenzene polymer films monitored by temperature scanning ellipsometry

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Abstract
The in situ observation of thermal alteration of photoinduced optical anisotropy of ultrathin films of polymethacrylates having p-cyanoazobenzene side chains exhibiting amorphous, crystalline, and liquid-crystalline phases was performed by means of temperature scanning ellipsometry. Whereas photogenerated optical anisotropy of amorphous polymer films disappeared above glass transition temperature, the photoinduced anisotropy of films of liquid crystalline and crystalline polymer films was significantly amplified by heat treatment. In case of crystalline polymers, amplified optical anisotropy was maintained even at 300 °C.