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A single-component photo-responsive fluid based on a gemini surfactant with an azobenzene spacer

2009; Elsevier BV; Volume: 333; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jcis.2009.02.030

1095-7103

Binglei Song, Yufang Hu, Jianxi Zhao,

Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies

A new gemini surfactant with an azobenzene group incorporated in the spacer has been synthesized. In water, this new compound forms a photo-responsive fluid, and the properties have been characterized by rheology and freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FF-TEM). UV/Vis irradiation causes a reversible change in zero shear viscosity of about 5 orders of magnitude. The different rheological properties correspond to different aggregation states in solution. A densely entangled network and small discrete micelles are respectively responsible for the high viscosity and the low viscosity state, as revealed by FF-TEM. The simplicity and high photo-efficiency of this single-component system act as a foundation for designing novel stimuli-responsive materials.