I am going to prepare hybrid thin films containing azobenzene with reversible photoresponsive behavior. I have read about different combinations of inorganic layers such as layered double hydroxide (LDH) with azobenzene molecules.

However, I can't understand the photocatalytic role of the inorganic portion in the isomerization of azobenzene. Can insulators be used as the inorganic part instead of semiconductors (if I consider LDH as the doped composite)?

Will the photodegradation also occur at the same time which Isomerization is occurring?