Phase behaviors and photo induced phase transition in binary system using azobenzene derivative and liquid crystalline compound which expresses bicontinuous cubic phase

Abstract

Phase transitions from a one-dimensional layered smectic phase to a three-dimensional networked bicontinuous cubic (Cub) phase induced by light in a binary mixture of a liquid crystalline compound and an azobenzene derivative have been studied. In this work, we investigated the thermal and photo-induced phase transitions in a two-component system of ACBC-20 that exhibits the Cub phase and an azobenzene derivative. Different temperature dependences of the lattice parameter observed between two similar systems with different chain lengths revealed a change in the roles of two parts, alkyl chain and attractive core parts.