Widukind Moormann

Communication Rainer Herges Corresponding Author E-mail address: rherges@oc.uni-kiel.de Universitaet Kiel, Institut fuer Organische Chemie, Otto-Hahn-Platz 4, 24118 Kiel, GERMANY Search for more papers by this author Abstract Photochromic systems have been used to achieve a number of engineering functions such as light energy conversion, molecular motors, pumps, actuators, and sensors.

In this work, we demonstrate the first synthesis of photochromic polymer thin films via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) using bifunctional, crystalline styrenediazocine as a photochromic unit. Since it represents a solid compound, an innovative custom-made sublimation unit is introduced, which allows the sublimation of the chromophore as well as its transport inside the reactor chamber, maintaining the functionality of the photoswitch.