Dynamic control of liquid-crystalline helical structures with the aid of light- and temperature-driven multi-stable chiral materials

Masuki Kawamoto; Natsuki Shiga; Takuya Aoki; Tatsuo Wada

doi:10.1117/12.825867

21 August 2009 Dynamic control of liquid-crystalline helical structures with the aid of light- and temperature-driven multi-stable chiral materials

Masuki Kawamoto, Natsuki Shiga, Takuya Aoki, Tatsuo Wada

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7414, Liquid Crystals XIII; 74140E (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.825867
Event: SPIE Photonic Devices + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Light- and temperature-driven multistable chiral materials composed of a binaphthyl moiety as a twisting part and an azobenzene moiety as a photoresponsive part in a single component were investigated. It has been found that the materials show reversible change in a dihedral angle of the twisting part at various temperatures. In contrast, no change in the twisting angle of the materials during trans-cis photoisomerization was observed. Furthermore, the chiral compounds were dissolved in nematic (N) liquid crystals (LCs) to produce a chiral N phase with a helical structure. The mixture exhibited a dual molecular response to temperature and light. Helical pitch length of the chiral N LC decreased with increasing temperature because of a molecular twisting motion of the binaphthyl moiety, resulting in a stabilization of the LC helical structure. On the other hand, length of the helical pitch increased upon photoirradiation, and the resulting LC mixture was found to show photoswitching between chiral N and N phases upon trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety. The photoinduced deformation of the LC helical structure was derived from a bent shape of cis isomer of the azobenzene moiety in the chiral dopant. This dynamic modulation of the self-organizing helical structure was based on dual and selective molecular motions of the guest materials induced by external stimuli.

Citation Download Citation

Masuki Kawamoto, Natsuki Shiga, Takuya Aoki, and Tatsuo Wada "Dynamic control of liquid-crystalline helical structures with the aid of light- and temperature-driven multi-stable chiral materials", Proc. SPIE 7414, Liquid Crystals XIII, 74140E (21 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.825867

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