Photoresponsive liquid crystal display driven by new photochromic azobenzene-based Langmuir-Blodgett films

We have used a new method to fabricate photochromic Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films from a pure azolbenzene derivative. The films are used to photoregulate nematic liquid crystals in the host-guest cell (LCD cell). We have demonstrated that the photoresponsiveness of the LCD cell is well determined by phototriggering the active LB surface with alternating ultraviolet and visible light illumination. The 'on' and 'off' states of the LCD display were assigned by the appearance of the homogeneous 'planar' and 'homeotropic' textures respectively. The molecular dynamics of the LCD cell are explained in terms of a model structure depicting photoresponsiveness against illumination.