Optically structured plastic electro-optic devices: about the particular photoinduced migration mechanism of bis-azodyes doped into polymers

Thin films of polymers containing photochromic azobenzene chromophores have been shown to be suitable materials for optical inscription. We report on surface relief gratings induced in poly(methylmethacrylate) thin-films doped with bis-azodyes. This brings some insight into the molecular migration mechanism which is responsible for the photoinduced surface relief grating formation.