Three kinds of epoxybased amorphous polymers containing strong pushpull biszao chromophores were obtained.For the synthesis

three aminoazobenzene derivatives with different structures were synthesized through azo-coupling reactions between 3

5dimethylaniline and diazonium salts of 4-nitroaniline

2

4dinitroaniline and 4-aminobenzonitrile

respectively.The bisazo polymers BP-2A-35-CN

BP-2A-35-NT and BP-2A-35-2NT were synthesized through post-polymerization azocoupling reaction between a precursor polymer (BP-AN) and diazonium salts of the aminoazobenzene derivatives.The azo polymers were characterized by the spectroscopic methods and thermal analysis.Thin films of the bisazo polymers were used to fabricate surface-relief-gratings (SRGs) by exposing the thin films to an interference pattern of diode-pumped solid state laser beam (532 nm) at modest intensities (80 mW/cm2).SRGs can be observed on films of BP-2A-35-CN and BP-2A-35-NT

but no surface structure can be observed on film of the azo polymer with nitro groups at the o-positions of azo groups (BP-2A-35-2NT).The result indicates that the azobenzene chromophore shows a significant effect on the SRG formation.