title: Manipulation and assembly of small objects in liquid crystals by dynamical disorganizing effect of push-pull-azobenzene-dye.
abstract: The phase transition of a nematic liquid crystal containing a push-pull azobenzene dye could be induced efficiently during irradiation with visible light. The dynamical disorganizing effect of the push-pull azobenzene dye on the liquid crystalline order through its trans-cis-trans photoisomerizaion cycle under visible light was contributed to the efficient phase transition. Then, the effects of light irradiation on the motion of small objects dispersed in the liquid crystals containing the push-pull azobenzene were explored, and the manipulation and assembly of those objects were successfully achieved in the nematic phase but also in the smectic phase. The combination of the photo-controlled dynamical change in the liquid crystalline order and the intrinsic self-assembly property of a liquid crystal is promising for use in technologies that require not only the organization of small objects but also the photo-driving of nano- and micro-sized mechanical materials.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan. kurihara@gpo.kumamoto-u.ac
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Tomonari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Sun-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim