Efficient Light-Induced Phase Transitions in Halogen-Bonded Liquid Crystals.

ABSTRACT: Here, we present a new family of light-responsive, fluorinated supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) showing efficient and reversible light-induced LC-to-isotropic phase transitions. Our materials design is based on fluorinated azobenzenes, where the fluorination serves to strengthen the noncovalent interaction with bond-accepting stilbazole molecules, and increase the lifetime of the cis-form of the azobenzene units. The halogen-bonded LCs were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, hot-stage polarized optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Simultaneous analysis of light-induced changes in birefringence, absorption, and optical scattering allowed us to estimate that <4% of the mesogenic units in the cis-form suffices to trigger the full LC-to-isotrop

SUBMITTER: Fernandez-Palacio F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5127694 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature