Mizuho Kondo

Diblock and random copolymers are synthesized from a methacrylate with benzoic acid (BA) side groups and a n-butyl methacrylate, and the photoinduced reorientation of thin films doped with a N-benzylideneaniline carboxylic acid (NBA), which governs the H-bond with BA, is investigated using linearly polarized (LP) 365 and 313 nm light. A sufficient thermally stimulated photoinduced orientation of the BA side groups and simultaneous sublimation of NBA are attained for the diblock copolymer films, whereas a thermal treatment results in the random orientation of the random copolymers. Furthermore, surface relief (SR) formation of the film is explored when the NBA-doped films are exposed to LP light using a photomask. The liquid crystalline characteristics, thermal properties, axis-selective photoisomerization, and the photo-cross-linking of the film play important roles in the molecular reorientation and SR formations.

<p>A photo-cross-linkable liquid crystalline polymer (PMCB6M) film can be applicable to LC alignment layer. In case of LC alignment, a near surface structure of alignment layer is most important. We investigated three-dimensional molecular orientation of oblique aligned PMCB6M films in bulk and near surface determined by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and near edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS).</p>

<p>Supramolecular liquid crystal using the interaction of pyridine-carboxylic acid is known to many. On the other hand, previously, we have reported that the axis-selective anisotropy is generated by irradiating the LPUV light in the thin film of the hydrogen bonding liquid crystal polymers having a cinnamic acid in the side chain terminal, and the anisotropy is amplified in a perpendicular direction to the polarization electric field E by heat treating it in the LC temperature range. In this presentation, we report the results for the photo-alignment behavior when various pyridine compounds were added in this polymer.</p>

<p>Photoalignment can be applicable to optical information storage, polarization holography, and photoalignment of low-molecular-weight liquid crystals (LCs). To date, several types of photoreactive liquid crystalline polymers (PLCPs) realize an effective thermally stimulated photoinduced molecular orientation. We synthesized liquid crystalline polymer with N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) side group, and found that the polymer reoriented using LP light. In this study, in order to expand the cooperative molecular reorientation, I synthesize copolymer comprised of NBA sidegroup as photoreactive group, and cyanobiphenyl side group as non-photoreactive group.</p>

<p>Mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) is an isothermal change in photoluminescence in excess of two states, and at least one pathway is induced by mechanical stimuli such as grinding, s hearing, pressing and stretching. This property is expected for mechanical sensor, cellular imaging, detection of microenvironmental changes, and optical memory. In this work, we prepared novel liquid -crystalline MCL compounds containing acetylene or 1,2,3 -triazole in π-conjugated component. The dyes changed their photoluminescent color by mechanically grinding and reverted to initial state upon annealing at their liquid-crystalline temperture. In addition, the LC dye formed uniaxially alignment when it coa ted on photoalignment layer.</p>

<p>Charge transport properties of liquid crystalline semiconductors can be controlled by tuning their aggregation structure and orientational state. In the previous work, we synthesized liquid crystalline oligothiophene based on cyano vinyl terthiophene and investigated their molecular orientation behavior on the photo-alignment film. In this study, we reported electrical and optical properties of two types of liquid crystalline vinyl terthiophene with a nd without cyano side subst ituent and explored the effect of the cyano side group on the electrical properties.</p>