Issue 14, 2023

Light-induced bi-directional switching of thermal conductivity in azobenzene-doped liquid crystal mesophases

Abstract

The development of systems that can be switched between states with different thermal conductivities is one of the current challenges in materials science. Despite their enormous diversity and chemical richness, molecular materials have been only scarcely explored in this regard. Here, we report a reversible, light-triggered thermal conductivity switching of ≈30–40% in mesophases of pure 4,4′-dialkyloxy-3-methylazobenzene. By doping a liquid crystal matrix with the azobenzene molecules, reversible and bidirectional switching of the thermal conductivity can be achieved by UV/Vis-light irradiation. Given the enormous variety of photoactive molecules and chemically compatible liquid crystal mesophases, this approach opens unforeseen possibilities for developing effective thermal switches based on molecular materials.

Graphical abstract: Light-induced bi-directional switching of thermal conductivity in azobenzene-doped liquid crystal mesophases

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 jan 2023
Accepted
23 fev 2023
First published
06 mar 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 4588-4594

Light-induced bi-directional switching of thermal conductivity in azobenzene-doped liquid crystal mesophases

N. Varela-Domínguez, C. López-Bueno, A. López-Moreno, M. S. Claro, G. Rama, V. Leborán, M. D. C. Giménez-López and F. Rivadulla, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 4588 DOI: 10.1039/D3TC00099K

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