Reversible Photoalignment of Azobenzene in the SURMOF HKUST-1.

Azobenzene guest molecules in the metal-organic framework structure HKUST-1 show reversible photochemical switching and, in addition, alignment phenomena. Since the host system is isotropic, the orientation of the guest molecules is induced via photo processes by polarized light. The optical properties of the thin films, analyzed by interferometry and UV/vis spectroscopy, reveal the potential of this alignment phenomenon for stable information storage.