Orientation control of polyazomethine thin films by polarized UV-assisted vapor deposition polymerization

Vapor deposition polymerization (VDP) was developed as a solvent-free preparation technique to form insoluble polymer film on a substrate by direct deposition of monomers. As π-conjugated polymer semiconductors, aromatic polyazomethine thin films are prepared through the co-evaporation of a dialdehyde monomer and a diamine monomer by VDP. In addition, it is reported that substances with an azomethine bond (N=CH) can be isomerized by UV irradiation. In this study, we investigate the molecular orientation in polyazomethine thin films based on the photoisomerization of the azomethine bond induced by polarized UV light irradiation during VDP.