Photochromism and holographic recording in polymer film containing chiral azo molecules derived from amino acid

Abstract A kind of chiral azo molecule derived from amino acid, N-[4-(4-octyloxyphenylazo)benzoyl]- l -glutamic acid (C8-Azo- l -Glu), was synthesized and the photochromism, photoinduced birefringence, and holographic recording in C8-Azo- l -Glu doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films were studied. C8-Azo- l -Glu underwent a reversible trans–cis–trans isomerization in the polymer matrix. The photoinduced birefringence was investigated at various intensities of Ar laser (488 nm) beam. A reversible hologram was recorded in this media and the dependence of the first order diffraction efficiency on the recording beam intensities was also presented.