Polymer–Nematic Liquid Crystal Interface: On the Role of the Liquid Crystalline Molecular Structure and the Phase Sequence in Photoalignment

Polymer–Nematic Liquid Crystal Interface: On the Role of the Liquid Crystalline Molecular Structure and the Phase Sequence in Photoalignment

We provide experimental evidence for the influence of the molecular structure of the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) on the photoalignment process in three dimensions at the interface with a polymer layer. In particular, the experimental findings are explained through the presence (or absence) of the &...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ameer R. K. Nassrah, István Jánossy, Viktor Kenderesi, Tibor Tóth-Katona
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
nematic–polymer interface
photoalignment
optical sensors
optical actuators
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/2/193
Description
Summary:We provide experimental evidence for the influence of the molecular structure of the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) on the photoalignment process in three dimensions at the interface with a polymer layer. In particular, the experimental findings are explained through the presence (or absence) of the <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>π</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>π</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> aromatic interactions between the NLC and the polymer. The influence of the nematic-to-smectic A phase transition on the photocontrol is also addressed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the photo-induced reorientation scenarios can be eventually connected to conformational changes in the photosensitive polymer.
ISSN:2073-4360

Similar Items