Characterization of the orientational behavior of liquid-crystalline side-chain polymers for reversible optical data storage by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that the photo-induced orientation or reorientation of dye-containing liquid-crystalline side-chain (LCSC) polymers can be used for reversible optical data storage. A method which enables the determination of this orientational behavior in addition to the order parameter is infrared dichroism. The present experimental approach uses Fourier- Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with polarized radiation to determine the orientation of the main chain and side chains in a LCSC polyester with a dodecamethylene spacing of the ester groups in the main chain and six methylene groups in the spacer, after irradiation with an Argon ion laser beam.