Role of polarization and alignment in photoactuation
of nematic elastomers |
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Authors: | C LM Harvey E M Terentjev |
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Institution: | (1) Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK |
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Abstract: | Changing the orientational order in liquid-crystal
elastomers leads to internal stresses and changes of the sample
shape. When this effect is induced by light, due to
photoisomerization of constituent molecular moieties, the
photomechanical actuation results. We investigate quantitatively
how the intensity and the polarization of light affect
photoactuation. By studying dissolved, as well as covalently
bonded azo-dyes, we determine the changes in absorption and the
response kinetics. For the first time we compare the response of
aligned monodomain, and randomly disordered polydomain nematic
elastomers, and demonstrate that both have a comparable
photoresponse, strongly dependent on the polarization of light.
Polarization-dependent photoactuation in polydomain elastomers
gives an unambiguous proof of its mechanism since it is the only
experiment that distinguishes from the associated thermal
effects. |
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Keywords: | 78 20 Hp Piezo- elasto- and acoustooptical effects photoacoustic effects 61 41 +e Polymers elastomers and plastics 82 35 Ej Nonlinear optics with polymers 83 80 Va Elastomeric polymers |
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