摘要

A novel soluble photosensitive azo polyimide was synthesized from 4,4';-di(1,2-anhydride-4-carboxylate) azobenzene and 4, 4';-diamino-4"-hexadecyloxy triphenylmethane through a polyimidization reaction. The structure and properties of the obtained polyimide were characterized by using (1H-NMR.) DSC, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The polymer showed significant photochromic effect upon UV irradiation due to the cis-trans photoisomerization. It was observed that the thin films of the polymer, after being irradiated with linearly polarized UV light and assembled in LC cells as alignment layers, could induce uniaxial homogenous orientation of nematic LC molecules.