Optimization of azopolymer films for optical memory applications by using ethylene glycol as a free-volumegenerator
Franco Lucio Tambosco, Corina Révora, Gabriel Fernando Volonnino, Silvia Goyanes, María Gabriela Capeluto, Silvia Ledesma
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Base Information
Volume
V56 - N2 / 2023 Especial: Óptica y Fotónica en Argentina
Reference
51149
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.7149/OPA.56.2.51149
Language
English
Keywords
Azopolymer, birefringence, free volume, optical memories
Abstract
Azopolymers are well known for their photo-induced properties, in particular, the photoinduced birefringence. Improving their performance has been of great interest in recent years for the development of applications as,for example, polarization holography, lithography and optical storage. In this work, we present the optimization of the azopolymerfor optical memory applications by using ethylene glycol as a free-volume generator. Thin films were fabricated with Poly[1-[4-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-azo) benzenesulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl, sodium salt] (PAZO) and ethylene glycol atdifferent % w/w concentrations.Samples were characterized by measuring the birefringence during recording, relaxation and erase cycles. The measured glass transition temperature (Tg) showed a minimum for the concentration 40 %w/w, at which the degree of decay, D = 1 - ΔnREM/ΔnMAX, reaches a maximum. Birefringence was also simulated using a stochastic model that includes the key factors involved in the recording process. We show that the material can be optimized for optical memories storage applications by balancing the free volume with the azobenzene concentration. This causes a decrease in the amount of azobenzenes while maintaining the efficiency of the samples.
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