Exploring substituent effects in reversible photoswitchable low molecular weight arylazoisoxazole adhesives†

The design of reusable responsive materials is of utmost importance to reduce the unsustainable use of valuable resources. Inspired by our initial work on the application of arylazoisoxazoles (AIZ) as reusable photoresponsive adhesives, we aim to uncover generalizations to their adhesive properties and optimize their molecular design. To achieve this goal, a molecular library of AIZ with different substitution patterns has been synthesized and examined for their adhesive properties. Several of the photoreversible low molecular weight adhesives in the library exhibited significantly enhanced (> 500%) weight-bearing capacities. This study broadens the understanding of AIZ as photoresponsive adhesives, shedding light on their limitations and the opportunities to improve their performance alike.