[14a-PB6-1~17] 12.2 Characterization and Materials Physics

[14a-PB6-13] Reaction rate acceleration of photochromic azobenzene molecules nearby free space

〇Ikumi Takemoto¹, Hideyuki Nakano², Tsuyoshi Tsujioka¹ (1.Osaka Kyoiku Univ., 2.Muroran Inst. Tech.)

Keywords:azobenzene, free space, reaction rate

Azobenzene reversibly changes between cis and trans isomers by light or heat. Molecular shape of azobenzene changes greatly with isomerization. In this study, we found that thermal reversion rate in the initial stage of azobenzene derivative (BFlAB) doped in polystyrene was much faster than that in toluene solution. Analogous results were obtained using other polymers and solvents. This result indicates that molecular shape change in thermal reaction is restricted by solvent molecules although solvent molecules move freely and that the BFlAB molecules nearby local free volume in polymer are easy to change. The existence of free space near BFlAB molecules plays important role for accelerated reaction rate.