Photodeformable Microspheres from Methacrylate‐Based Azo Homopolymers

In this study, two methacrylate‐based azo homopolymers are synthesized and used to fabricate photodeformable microspheres through a self‐assembling approach. The methacrylate‐based azo homopolymer with the narrow molecular weight distribution is synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, while the other with the relatively broad molecular weight distribution is synthesized by conventional radical polymerization. The azo polymers are characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H‐NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis TGA, gel permeation chromatography GPC, and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) m. The colloidal spheres are obtained by gradually adding deionized water into the solutions of the azo polymers in N , N ‐dimethylformamide. Laser light scattering analysis and transmission electron microscopy observations show that although both azo polymers can form uniform colloidal spheres in the dispersions, the molecular weight and its distribution show significant effects on the colloid formation process and the sizes of the colloidal spheres formed in the process. Upon irradiation with a linearly polarized Ar + laser beam for a period of time, the azo polymer microspheres show the elongated deformation along the polarization direction of the actinic light. image