Title: Azobenzene photoisomerization: an old reaction for activating new molecular devices and materials
Abstract: The E–Z photoisomerization of azobenzene – owing to its high efficiency, excellent reversibility and significant physico-chemical differences between the two forms – is highly interesting for the construction of photocontrollable molecular systems and materials. In this chapter we illustrate how this outstanding photoreactivity can be utilized to develop (supra)molecular systems and materials with valuable light-induced functionalities by presenting some investigations carried out in our laboratory.