Abstract
Photosensitive polymers based on polysiloxanes substituted with different azo and quaternary ammonium groups were synthesized and characterized. The chemical structure of the synthesized polymers was confirmed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The photochromic behaviour was evaluated as a result of the interaction with UV light. The micellar aggregation/disaggregation capacity of the polymers was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. All the synthesized amphiphilic polymers are able to generate micelles, the critical concentration of aggregation values being situated in the domain (3-13) x 10-3 g/L. The morphology of the micellar aggregates is fundamentally influenced by the polymer chemical structure. If in the case of azobenzene and azo-5-crwon-15-ether groups it is possible to obtain 35-155 nm diameter individual micelles, for the azo-6-crown-18-ether group, only small aggregates with diameters below 10 nm can be obtained. The micelle’s disaggregation capacity as a consequence of UV irradiation is strongly affected by the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, as well as the chemical structure of the azo groups. Keywords: azobenzene, polysiloxane, photosensitive micelles