Stabilization and optical switching of liquid crystal blue phase doped with azobenzene-based bent-shaped hydrogen-bonded assemblies

Abstract

Stabilization and phototuning of the reflection color of BP I have been demonstrated in a BP-LCs by employing a new kind of bent-shaped H-bonded assemblies with azobenzene group.

Optically Switchable Circularly Polarization-Dependent Optical Vortex

“…Optical switch mechanisms, such as phase transition between blue phase and chiral nematic phase of azobenzene materials, have been explored intensively based on azobenzene materials including azobenzene chiral dopant [16,17], azobenzene liquid crystal [15,[20][21][22], and other azobenzene molecules [13,14,18,19]. Recently, photo-manipulated photonic bandgap devices based on optically tristable chiral-tilted homeotropic nematic liquid crystal has been demonstrated [23].…”

“…Azobenzene is a kind of material that can change its molecular structure under ultraviolet light (UV) and green light between trans isomer and cis isomer, which has been used for phase transition between blue phase and chiral nematic phase [13,14], and spectra shift [15][16][17][18][19]. Optical switch mechanisms, such as phase transition between blue phase and chiral nematic phase of azobenzene materials, have been explored intensively based on azobenzene materials including azobenzene chiral dopant [16,17], azobenzene liquid crystal [15,[20][21][22], and other azobenzene molecules [13,14,18,19].…”

Self‐Assembly of Azobenzene Derivatives into Organogels and Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] The controlo f weak and multiple noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, p-p stacking, and van der Waals forces, at the molecular level, is critical in regulating the nano-to micro-size architectures, chromophore packing, and opticalp roperties. [11][12][13][14] Amongv arious molecular self-assemblies, p-organogels have become one of the most attractive soft materials, which have provedt ob ev aluable platforms in aw ide range of fields including fluorescence sensing, opto/electronic devices,etc. [11][12][13][14] Amongv arious molecular self-assemblies, p-organogels have become one of the most attractive soft materials, which have provedt ob ev aluable platforms in aw ide range of fields including fluorescence sensing, opto/electronic devices,etc.…”

“…[7][8][9][10] Great efforts have succeeded in the design of av ariety of artificial supramolecular architectures of different sizes, shapes, and functions. [11][12][13][14] Amongv arious molecular self-assemblies, p-organogels have become one of the most attractive soft materials, which have provedt ob ev aluable platforms in aw ide range of fields including fluorescence sensing, opto/electronic devices,etc. [2,[15][16][17] Self-assembled liquid crystal (LC) materials, as another typical functional soft matter,s how various mesophases depending on temperature and responsiveness to external stimuli such as heat, electric fields, and light.…”

Synthesis and mesophase behaviour of branched azobenzene-based supramolecular hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals

“…Therefore, the azobenzene moiety is the most widely used photoactive bistable group whether in a rod-shaped [19] or bent-core-shaped mesogen [20,21] because of its easy synthesis and having a good compatibility with LC phase especially in its trans-form (its elongated structure). Depending on the trans-cis transformation of azobenzene, extensive works have been performed to control the orientation of LC, such as inducing nematic phase [18], smectic phase [22], cubic phases [23], adjusting the reflection wavelength of the chiral nematic (N*) phase [24][25][26][27] or Bragg reflection of BPs [28][29][30][31][32][33], phase transitions from nematic to isotropic states [34] and the helical twisting power [35,36]. However, azo compounds usually have relatively high melting point and low solubility in liquid crystals matrix, which has been one of the obstacles to their potential applications.…”