The incorporation of azobenzene chromophores into polymer systems gives rise to a number of unique effects under UV and visible light irradiation. The light-driven isomerization of the azobenzene element acts as a light-to-mechanical energy converter, translating the nanoscopic structural movement of the isomerization azobenzene into macroscopic topographic film modulation in the form of surface relief. This review focuses on the study of reversible changes in shape in various systems incorporating azobenzene, including large-scale superficial photo-patterned glassy materials, light-driven reshaping of tridimensional superficial azo-textures and contractions of stimuli-responsive liquid crystalline networks (LCNs). Further, promising applications of azo systems are investigated as smart biointerfaces able to mimic time-varying biological systems.

将偶氮苯发色团纳入聚合物体系可在紫外线和可见光照射下产生许多独特的效果。偶氮苯元素的光驱动异构化充当光-机械能量转换器，将异构化偶氮苯的纳米级结构运动转化为表面浮雕形式的宏观形貌薄膜调制。本综述重点研究含有偶氮苯的各种系统中形状的可逆变化，包括大规模表面光图案玻璃材料、三维表面偶氮纹理的光驱动重塑以及刺激响应液晶网络（LCN）的收缩。此外，偶氮系统作为能够模拟时变生物系统的智能生物界面的有前途的应用正在被研究。