Optical switching behavior of liquid crystalline polymer networks containing azobenzene molecules

Seiji Kurihara; Akihisa Sakamoto; Daisuke Yoneyama; Takamasa Nonaka

doi:10.1117/12.365793

14 October 1999 Optical switching behavior of liquid crystalline polymer networks containing azobenzene molecules

Seiji Kurihara, Akihisa Sakamoto, Daisuke Yoneyama, Takamasa Nonaka

Proceedings Volume 3800, Liquid Crystals III; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.365793
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

Photoresponsive liquid crystalline polymer networks with macroscopically uniaxial molecular orientation were prepared by polymerizing mixtures of liquid crystalline mono and di- acrylates, and an azobenzene compound in a homogeneous glass cell at a nematic phase. The polymer networks showed an enantiotropic phase transition from an anisotropic phase to an isotropic phase as well as high transparency. The photoisomerization of the azobenzene compound resulted in a change in a birefringence. The photochemical change in the birefringence was investigated by using a Xe lamp and a single pulse light from a Nd:YAG laser at light sources. We observed a response time in a range of a few microseconds and a decay time in a range of a few microhundreds of seconds. The optical switching behavior depended on the cross-linking density of the liquid crystalline polymer networks.

Citation Download Citation

Seiji Kurihara, Akihisa Sakamoto, Daisuke Yoneyama, and Takamasa Nonaka "Optical switching behavior of liquid crystalline polymer networks containing azobenzene molecules", Proc. SPIE 3800, Liquid Crystals III, (14 October 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.365793

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available