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Science 30 June 1995:
Vol. 268. no. 5219, pp. 1873 - 1875
DOI: 10.1126/science.268.5219.1873
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Articles

Optical Switching and Image Storage by Means of Azobenzene Liquid-Crystal Films

Tomiki Ikeda 1 and Osamu Tsutsumi

1 Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Research Development Corporation of Japan, Research Laboratory of Resources Utilization, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226, Japan

Liquid crystals are promising materials for optical switching and image storage because of their high resolution and sensitivity. Azobenzene liquid crystals (LCs) have been developed, in which azobenzene moieties play roles as both mesogens and photosensitive chromophores. Azobenzene LC films showed a nematic phase in trans isomers and no LC phase in cis isomers. Trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene with a laser pulse resulted in a nematic-to-isotropic phase transition with a rapid optical response of 200 microseconds.

Submitted on February 3, 1995
Accepted on April 27, 1995


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Synthesis and Characterization of Benzylidene and Azobenzene Based Photochromic Liquid-Crystalline Polymers.
D. Jayalatha, R. Balamurugan, and P. Kannan (2009)
High Performance Polymers 21, 139-154
   Abstract »    PDF »
Cooperative light-induced molecular movements of highly ordered azobenzene self-assembled monolayers.
G. Pace, V. Ferri, C. Grave, M. Elbing, C. von Hanisch, M. Zharnikov, M. Mayor, M. A. Rampi, and P. Samori (2007)
PNAS 104, 9937-9942
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Surface-Driven Switching of Liquid Crystals Using Redox-Active Groups on Electrodes.
Y.-Y. Luk and N. L. Abbott (2003)
Science 301, 623-626
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)