The photomechanical response and photochemistry of a conventional, unsubstituted azobenzene-functionalized liquid crystalline polymer network (azo-LCN) is contrasted to that of an analogous material prepared with meta-fluorinated azobenzene chromophores. The polydomain azo-LCN materials exhibit nearly identical thermomechanical and optical properties. Photomechanical characterization indicates that the fluorination of the azobenzene chromophore reduces the deflection of cantilevers composed of the materials by 50%, which spectroscopic analysis reveals is due to a reduction in the ability of this material to isomerize and potentially reorient. This work is further confirmation that the underlying photochemistry of azobenzene is a primary contributor to the generation of photomechanical work in these materials. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 876-882