GUEST-HOST FERROELECTRIC SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERIC MATERIALS WITH IMPROVED ELECTROOPTICAL PROPERTIES

A ferroelectric side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane (FLCP) cont aining azobenzene dyes as guest molecules for electro-optics has been investigated. The intensity and frequency of the Goldstone mode for th e FLCP were increased remarkably after doping with azobenzene dyes. La rger fluctuation of the spontaneous polarization vector in each smecti c layer under an applied electric field can be brought about with the addition of a strong dipole-moment guest molecule. This leads to a lar ger spontaneous polarization and shorter response time. It was found t hat the doping of a suitable amount of a strong dipole-moment azobenze ne dye in the LC phase of the FLCP is helpful for the improvement of t he electro-optical properties.