Synthesis of chiral azobenzene-based compounds for use in the photochemical tuning of the helical structure of liquid crystals |
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Authors: | Seiji Kurihara Teppei Yoshioka Tomonari Ogata Alam Md Zahangir Takamasa Nonaka |
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Affiliation: | Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Engineering Kumamoto University Kurokami 2-39-1 Kumamoto 860-8555 Japan |
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Abstract: | We have synthesized azobenzene-based molecules containing either one or two chiral groups. A cholesteric phase can be induced by adding the chiral azobenzene compounds to a host nematic liquid crystal. We investigated the effects of the trans-cis photoisomerization of the chiral azobenzene compounds on the properties of the cholesteric phase, such as the helical pitch length. This can be increased or decreased by the photoisomerization of the chiral azobenzene compounds. We discuss the photochemically driven change in the helical pitch of the cholesteric phase with respect to structural effects involving the chiral groups. |
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