Azobenzene-polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals: photoalignment and morphology

We exploit the use of azobenzene-containing polymer networks in ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs). One possible utility of the polymer in such a system is to induce and stabilize a bulk alignment of the FLC host, without surface orientation layers, through the photo-orientation of the azobenzene groups on the network under lineally polarized irradiation. Three azobenzene monomers, inclduign an achiral diacrylate, a chiral dimethacrylate and an achiral divinyl ether, were synthesized and investigated with two commercial FLC mixtures; polymerization was carried out thermally and photochemically. The photo-induced alignment of FLC was observed with two of these azobenzene polymers. Different phase separation behaviors and resulting morphologies were observed.