Azobenzene - GoKawiil

Kim et al. use time-resolved X-ray liquidography to track azobenzene isomerization in solution

A study published in Nature by Kim and colleagues applies time-resolved X-ray liquidography to observe azobenzene molecules undergoing light-triggered photoisomerization while dissolved in a solvent. The technique captured structural changes of the light atoms in the molecule despite being surrounded by a much bulkier solvent medium, detailing the rearrangement process as it unfolds.

nature.com · 2026-10-12

PAL-XFEL study maps ultrafast atomic motions during azobenzene light-switching

Researchers used time-resolved X-ray liquidography at South Korea's PAL-XFEL free-electron laser facility to track the structural changes azobenzene molecules undergo when switched from trans to cis form by a laser pulse. The experiment combined a 400 nm pump laser with X-ray probe pulses to capture molecular motion with a measured time resolution of about 169 femtoseconds, using a single-pass capillary jet of the dissolved sample rather than a recirculated solution.

nature.com · 2026-09-30