Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of azo dyes, which are widely applied in the textile industry for coloring fabrics. It is also employed in the preparation of liquid crystalline materials, which are essential for display technologies like LCDs. Additionally, it serves as a reagent in organic synthesis for introducing phenylazo groups into various compounds, enabling the study of photochromic and thermochromic properties. Its applications extend to research in molecular switches and sensors due to its light-responsive behavior.