Polymers for optical storage-photoresponsive polymers by structure variation in side-group polymethacrylates

To avoid difficulties linked with the preparation of unique oriented films of liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers, the use of amorphous films of new photochromic side-group polymers is proposed for optical data storage. This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of such new polymers. Different possibilities are discussed of decreasing the LC character by modification of the chemical structure of polymethacrylates with azobenzene side-groups.