Electro-optical effect in films of azobenzene polycomplexes with cobalt

Polymeric films containing azobenzene fragments with donor and acceptor groups were produced as well as films of polycomplexes of these fragments with cobalt. Absorption spectra of these films before and during application of an external electric field were investigated. Electro-optical properties of the films are conditioned by spatial reorientation of dipole moments of azobenzene groups induced by polarized light in an external electric field. Increase in dipole moments of azobenzene groups reduces the influence of cobalt ions on the electro-optical properties of the polycomplex films. In the proposed phenomenological model, the electro-optical effect is explained by effect of induced forces upon azobenzene isomers and metallic ions.