Displacement-Current Generation from Spread Monolayers of Poly(vinyl alcohol)s Bearing Azobenzene Sides

Abstract
Generation of displacement current across single monolayers of poly(vinyl alcohol)s bearing azobenzene sides was investigated with alternating irradiation with ultraviolet light and visible light. The displacement-current generation was accompanied by a change in the area occupied per molecule. The direction of the displacement-current generation was found to be explained by the change in the vertical component of dipole moment of monolayers perpendicular to the water surface due to the cis-trans photoisomerization.