Conoscopic evidence of the UV light-induced flexoelectric effect in homeotropic layers of nematic liquid crystal doped with azobenzene derivatives

A digitalized version of the standard method of conoscopy was employed to register the bend deformation of molecular orientation in homeotropic nematic layers caused by an in-plane applied DC electric field, and influenced by UV light illumination. Two guest-host systems prepared by mixing of a nema...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. Conference series 2010-11, Vol.253 (1), p.012060
Main Authors: Marinov, Y G, Hadjichristov, G B, Petrov, A G, Sridevi, S, Hiremath, U S, Yelamaggad, C V, Prasad, S K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Azo compounds
Electric fields
Field strength
Isomerization
Liquid crystals
Luminous intensity
Nematic crystals
Photochromism
Physics
Ultraviolet radiation
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Summary:A digitalized version of the standard method of conoscopy was employed to register the bend deformation of molecular orientation in homeotropic nematic layers caused by an in-plane applied DC electric field, and influenced by UV light illumination. Two guest-host systems prepared by mixing of a nematic liquid crystal and an azobenzene-containing photochromic liquid crystalline material featuring a longitudinal molecular asymmetry, were studied. Upon continuous UV irradiation, a photo-isomerization of the photochromic molecules occurs resulting in an enhanced flexoelectric response of the guest-host mixtures. The dependence of the photoflexoeffect on the field strength and UV light intensity was also examined.
ISSN:1742-6596
1742-6588
1742-6596
DOI:10.1088/1742-6596/253/1/012060