Dynamic wetting of self-assembled monolayers and polymer brushes functionalized with photoresponsive arylazopyrazoles

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bart Jan Ravoo
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422879009

Molecular photoswitches are a unique type of molecules that can be switched reversibly between two isomers (shapes) upon irradiation with light. Since the two isomers of the molecular photoswitch have different properties, incorporation of photoswitches into materials and coatings can result in macroscopic effects such as photoswitchable stability, permeability, or wettability. In this project we will investigate a new type of molecular photoswitch to prepare surfaces with photoresponsive wettability. Due to optimized molecular design, the photoswitch can be self-assembled in molecular monolayers or embedded in polymer brush nanofilms with enhanced dynamic wettability.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2171: Dynamic wetting of flexible, adaptive and switchable surfaces