Photochemical Control of Properties of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals. 3. Photochemically Induced Reversible Change in Spontaneous Polarization and Electrooptic Property

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100034a048

The photochemical control of spontaneous polarization (Ps) and the electrooptic properties of ferroelectric liquid srystals (FLCs) was studied.The photoisomerization of photochromic molecules (azobenzene and spiropyran derivatives) in FLCs caused the disorganization of the liquid crystalline phase with concomitant change in the interaction of FLC molecules and alignment layer and induced a reversible change in physical properties of the FLC.The rate and efficiency of the change in properties are discussed in connection with the structures of FLCs.