Photochemically Induced Domain Formation in Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals Containing Azobenzene Derivatives

Abstract

Photochemically induced isotropic (I) domain formation in photoresponsive liquid crystal (LC) systems containing an azobenzene derivative as a photosensitive chromophore was investigated. On photoirradiation of the mixtures to cause the trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene, the formation of the I domain was observed. We considered that the domain formation resulted from the aggregation of the cis isomers. When a bent-shaped molecule was added to the LC/azobenzene mixtures, the aggregation of the cis isomers took place more effectively and photochemical phase transition was induced rapidly.