Photopolymerization of a ferroelectric liquid-crystalline monomer, (R)-methylheptyl 4'-(4-(ω-methacryloyloxyundecyloxy)benzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate, was carried out, using a photoinitiator (Ciba Geigy, Irgacure 784) under an electric field with an argon-ion laser at 488 nm. Initial alignment of mesogens was retained and stabilized by polymerization. With the reverse electric field, change in alignment of mesogens was brought about slowly. A sample with a higher conversion exhibited slower response to electric field. Furthermore, material having refractive index distribution was prepared by photopolymerization with Gaussian laser beam.
