Photochemical study on fast optical switching behavior of liquid crystalline networks

Abstract

Photoresponsive liquid crystalline networks were prepared by polymerization of mixtures consisting of liquid crystalline mono- and di-acrylates, and an azobenzene compound in a homogeneous glass cell at a nematic phase. The photochemical change in the birefringence was investigated by using a single pulse irradiation from a Nd:YAG laser as a light source. The magnitude of the change in the birefringence was dependent on cross-linking density, concentration of azobenzene molecules, and irradiation temperature. In addition, the thermal cis-trans reverse isomerization was influenced by the cross-linking. The optical switching behavior and photochemical properties of the liquid crystalline networks will be discussed.