Reversible photochemical control of cholesteric liquid crystals with a diamine-based diarylethene chiroptical switch†
Abstract
Upon addition of a chiral dopant to a nematic liquid crystal, amplification of molecular chirality can occur and consequently a cholesteric liquid crystal is formed. A major challenge in materials science consists in designing efficient chiral dopants that allow for control over chiral amplification by use of an external trigger, for example by irradiation with light, and thereby achieving the control of the dynamic and responsive structure of cholesteric liquid crystals. Here, a chiral photochromic switch bearing two chiral