Photochromic liquid crystalline block copolymers (PLCBCs) are currently playing a significant role as light‐responsive materials because of their light controllable features over multiple length scales. Herein, a study of the photoinduced optical anisotropy derived by the combination of orientation phenomena at molecular and supramolecular levels in a novel kind of side‐chain PLCBCs with mesogenic phenyl benzoate groups and pyridine units that is hydrogen bonded with azobenzene‐containing phenol is reported. Based on the polymeric architectures and composition, the supramolecular configuration self‐organizes in different microphases that affect the material response to the external stimuli. Simple, 1D, polarization holograms are recorded to evaluate the photoinduced birefringence. The first step, light patterning, involves the orientation of the azobenzene units and precedes a thermal treatment that amplifies the induced anisotropy through the cooperative orientation of the mesogenic units. By selective extraction, the azobenzene units can be removed, making the material transparent to the visible light. Excellent photostability of the material birefringence is obtained, whose final value is strongly affected by the block copolymer's architecture. The versatility in the molecular design, the fine control of the photoinduced features by external parameters, and, finally, the possibility to achieve photostability make these materials of great potential for developing optical and photonic devices.

中文翻译：

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含偶氮苯的液晶三嵌段共聚物的光致图案化：光诱导的各向异性和光稳定作用。

目前，光致变色液晶嵌段共聚物（PLCBC）作为光响应材料起着重要作用，因为它们在多个长度范围内具有可控光的特征。本文报道了一种新型的，由分子和超分子水平上的定向现象结合而产生的光致光学各向异性的研究，该新型侧链PLCBC具有介晶的苯甲酸苯酯基团和与含偶氮苯的苯酚氢键合的吡啶单元。基于聚合物的结构和组成，超分子构型会在不同的微相中自组织，从而影响材料对外部刺激的反应。记录简单的一维偏振全息图以评估光致双折射。第一步，光图案 涉及偶氮苯单元的取向并在热处理之前通过介晶单元的协同取向来放大诱导的各向异性。通过选择性萃取，可以除去偶氮苯单元，使材料对可见光透明。材料双折射具有出色的光稳定性，其最终值受嵌段共聚物结构的强烈影响。分子设计的多功能性，通过外部参数对光诱导特征的精细控制，以及最终实现光稳定性的可能性，使得这些材料具有开发光学和光子器件的巨大潜力。通过选择性萃取，可以除去偶氮苯单元，使材料对可见光透明。材料双折射具有出色的光稳定性，其最终值受嵌段共聚物结构的强烈影响。分子设计的多功能性，通过外部参数对光诱导特征的精细控制，以及最终实现光稳定性的可能性，使得这些材料具有开发光学和光子器件的巨大潜力。通过选择性萃取，可以除去偶氮苯单元，使材料对可见光透明。材料双折射具有出色的光稳定性，其最终值受嵌段共聚物结构的强烈影响。分子设计的多功能性，通过外部参数对光诱导特征的精细控制以及最终实现光稳定性的可能性使这些材料具有开发光学和光子器件的巨大潜力。