In an example, a process of forming a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer includes chemically reacting an azobenzene material that includes at least two chlorocarbonyl functional groups with an amine to form a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer. The photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer has a polymer chain that includes a first chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a first end of the polymer chain, a plurality of repeating azobenzene monomer units, and a second chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a second end of the polymer chain.