Abstract

Molecular photoswitches have been incorporated into polymer backbones to control the macromolecular conformations by structural changes of the main-chain photoswitches. However, previous photoswitches installed in the main chains are thermolabile, which precludes deep understanding, precise regulation, and practical applications of the macromolecular conformational changes. Herein, we focus on sterically hindered stiff stilbene (HSS), an emerging photoswitch offering large structural changes in isomerization between the thermally bistable