title: Nematic-to-isotropic photo-induced phase transition in azobenzene-doped low-molar liquid crystals.
abstract: The photo-induced phase transition generated by several 4,4'-disubstituted azobenzenes in host nematic low-molar mass liquid crystals was quantified by means of the efficiency, DeltaT(N-I), using polarized optical microscopy (POM) at variable temperature. Non-covalent interactions established between mesogen and azobenzene were the main determinants of the photo-induced phase transition behaviour. The correct design of the chemical structure of the system components allows controlling the temperature range in which the photo-induced mesophase transition occurs. Therefore, more efficient systems were obtained when azobenzenes with an extended aromatic core were used.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Orgànica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Amorós
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szymczyk
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velasco