Photoinduced Motions of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Containing Azobenzene Moieties in Main Chains

Thermoplastic polyurethane containing azobenzene moieties in main chains was developed for photomobile materials capable of reversible photoactuation and shape programming, and was characterized for phase transition properties, microstructures, and photoinduced deformation behaviors. Photomobile films with glassy nature could be fabricated using both melt- and solution-processing methods, in contrast with conventional photomobile materials consisting of chemically cross-linked networks. The alignment of azobenzene moieties and macroscopic shapes in the initial states were controlled by external force under heating above glass transition temperature, which were stabilized by the formation of physical cross-links through hydrogen bonding interactions. The films with uniaxial alignment of azobenzene moieties showed reversible bending upon irradiation with UV and visible light, which could be repeated for 100 cycles. Physical cross-links in the present system can be an alternative for covalent cross-links in photomobile polymer materials, expanding the variety of designs with superior processability.