By interaction between light and structural periodicity, structural coloration is caused. The artificially periodic materials are called photonic crystals and it has attracted great attention for optical applications. Recently, we prepared one-dimensional photonic crystal with multibilayered films consisting of azobenzene-containing polymers and polyvinyl alcohol and reported the on–off switching controlled by refractive index change depended on the molecular orientation states. In addition, we studied the birefringence properties of azobenzene-containing polymers based on their molecular design for the improvement of the switching speed and reflection intensity of photonic crystals.
- Sunnam Kim
- Tomonari Ogata
- Seiji Kurihara
