Photo-induced in-plane alignments of liquid crystal molecules on alternate self-assembled ultrathin films containing azo-dye and evaluation by the attenuated total reflection measurement

Kazunari Shinbo*, Jun Ishikawa, Akira Baba, Futao Kaneko, Keizo Kato, Rigoberto C. Advincula

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A liquid crystal (LC) cell with alternate self-assembled films containing azobenzene dye as aligning layers was fabricated and photo-induced in-plane alignments of nematic LC molecules, 5CB, have been investigated in the cell using the attenuated total reflection (ATR) method. The ATR properties due to excitations of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) were observed in the LC cell and sensitively changed with irradiation of linearly polarized visible light to the LC cell. The experimental results corresponded well with the calculated shifts at different alignment states. It was evaluated that the LC molecules within the penetration length of the SPP (about 130 nm) were aligned perpendicular to the polarized direction of the irradiation light, and that the tilt angle was almost 0 degree.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-196
Number of pages4
JournalMolecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology Section A: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Volume370
Publication statusPublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attenuated total reflection
  • Azo dye
  • LC molecule
  • Photo-induced alignment
  • Self-assembled film

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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