Light switchable transport through azobenzene modified gold nanotube membranes

Abstract

Gold nanotube membranes were fabricated through the electroless deposition of gold onto a porous alumina template (Au-PA). The transport properties of the gold nanotube membranes were controlled through the reversible switching of adsorbed fluorinated azobenzene layers. The fluorinated, hydrophobic end group of the azobenzene chain produces a transition between hydrophobic and less hydrophobic surface properties when switching from the trans to the cis state. The switchable transport properties of the azobenzene modified membrane were examined through the transport of a hydrophilic probe dye across the membrane.