2D01 Photochemical Manipulation of Azo Polymer Liquid Crystals

Polymer liquid crystals containing azobenzene moieties have attracted increasing attention because of their potential uses in various photonics applications. This study presents the results of three-dimensional manipulation of azo polymer liquid crystals by the use of unpolarized light at 436 nm. When cis-azobenzene groups were irradiated with the unpolarized light, resulted trans-azobenzene moleties were aligned along the propagation direction of the irradiation light. The induced anisotropy was large (order parameter up to 0.36), reversible, and stable. The alignment change was affected by the interaction between the azo moiety and the substrate.