Photochromic and fluorescent LC gels based on a bent-shaped azobenzene-containing gelator

Abstract

Photochromic LC-gels based on a low-molar-mass azobenzene-containing bent-shaped gelator and nematic liquid crystals were prepared. LC-gels are capable of reversible melting under E–Z isomerization of azobenzene chromophores induced by UV-irradiation. It is shown that light and heat actions allow one to manipulate the phase behaviour, fluidity and optical properties of the prepared LC-gels. The observed phenomenon was applied for the creation of nematic and cholesteric mixtures with phototunable degrees of linearly or circularly polarized fluorescence. The elaborated systems can be considered as promising soft-matter materials for optics and photonics applications.