Optical, electrical, and photophysical properties of films of polycomplexes of azobenzene derivatives with cobalt

The absorption spectra, photoconductivity, and electrical conductivity of films of new polycomplexes of 4-methacyloyloxy-(4′-carboxy-3′-oxy)azobenzene and 4-methacryloyloxy-2-nitro-(4′-carboxy-3′-oxy)azobenzene with cobalt were investigated with switched-off and switched-on external electric fields. The effect of an external electric field on the transmission of linearly polarized light through films near the long-wavelength absorption edge is revealed. It is shown that the change in the light transmission under the action of an external electric field is due to the spatial reorientation of the dipole moments of azobenzene groups photoinduced by polarized light in an external electric field. The effect of an electric field on the light transmission is explained by the formation of forces acting on the dipole moments of azobenzene groups and on metal ions. The increase in the dipole moments of azobenzene groups as a result of introduction of nitro groups into their composition decreases the effect of cobalt ions on the electro-optical properties of polycomplex films.