A main-chain, azoaromatic, chromophore-functionalized polyelectrolyte with an oligomeric molecular weight was synthesized by the reaction of 4,4'-azobispyridine and 1,6-dibromohexane. The polyelectrolyte was designed to contain ionic groups to impart electrostatic self-assembly with polyanion and azoaromatic groups for photoprocessability. The polymer solution exhibited a solvatochromic effect, having different absorption maxima in water (294 nm) and N,N-dimethylformamide (400 nm). By a change in the counteranions of the bispyridinium groups, the solubility of the polymer could be controlled, and this made it possible to fabricate electrostatic assembled films or spin-cast films for further applications. The direct photofabrication of laser-induced interference patterns on polymer surfaces with large surface modulation was also investigated with an argon ion laser. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.