Photo by _louisreed from unsplash
We compare the actuation speeds of the azobenzene-doped nematic liquid crystal polymer (azo-LCP) by examining its activation mechanisms: photoisomerization and trans–cis–trans reorientation (TCTR) (also known as Weigert effect). Both experiments… Click to show full abstract
We compare the actuation speeds of the azobenzene-doped nematic liquid crystal polymer (azo-LCP) by examining its activation mechanisms: photoisomerization and trans–cis–trans reorientation (TCTR) (also known as Weigert effect). Both experiments and modeling are carried out in this study to compare the speed of bending and contraction acting on azo-LCP. We identify that the TCTR-based photobending of azo-LCP generated less than half the photostrain in a unit cell than that in the photoisomerization case but involves a larger azo-LCP thickness in triggering photodeformation. Because photodeformation occurs in a deeper region than that in the photoisomerization case, the TCTR-based photobending of azo-LCP exhibits a faster bending speed than the photoisomerization-based photobending of azo-LCP, even though less strain is generated in the TCTR case.
Journal Title: Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Year Published: 2018
Link to full text (if available)
Share on Social Media: Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!