Abstract
We examined the orientational transition process of p-pentyl-p'-cyano-biphenyl (5CB) molecules in liquid-crystal (LC) cells triggered by the conformational change of the surface azobenzene monolayer on polyimide (PI) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films, by measuring the optical transmittance and the electrical capacitance simultaneously. The experimental results were analyzed using a continuum theory describing the free energy of LC cells. It was shown that the motion of 5CB molecules triggered by the surface azobenzene monolayer on PI LB films was ruled by the continuum theory. The transmittance and the capacitance of the LC cells with 1-layer PI LB films were changed reversibly by the alternating irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, whereas those of LC cells with 5- and 11-layer PI LB layers were not changed reversibly. These results were discussed, taking into account the difference in the anchoring strength of PI LB films.
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