Photo-responsive carbon nanomaterials functionalized by azobenzene moieties: structures, properties and application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Tuning properties of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes is crucial for advanced optoelectronic nanodevices.
• Optical modulation offers a pathway to control microstructures, bandgap, conductance, chemical environment, and thermal storage of CNMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the optical control and regulation of structures, properties, interface, and interaction of photo-responsive carbon nanomaterials/azobenzene moieties (Carbon-AZO) hybrids.
• To highlight the optical switching properties of Carbon-AZO hybrids for photo-energy conversion devices.

Main Methods:

• Focus on photo-isomerization between trans and cis isomers in Carbon-AZO hybrids.
• Discussion of optical switching properties and their application in energy conversion devices.

Main Results:

• Carbon-AZO hybrids exhibit optical switching properties due to photo-isomerization.
• These properties are relevant for applications in photo-energy conversion devices, including switches, sensors, detectors, fuels, and storage.

Conclusions:

• Future development of advanced energy conversion devices using Carbon-AZO hybrids is possible through optimization of chemical structure, conformation, and functionalization.
• The review underscores the potential of Carbon-AZO hybrids in next-generation optoelectronic nanodevices.