Field-responsive chiral-photochromic side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers

A series of cholesteric copolymers containing combined chiral-photochromic side-groups has been obtained and their phase behaviour, optical and photo- optical properties have been studied. All copolymers are characterized by s elective light reflection in the visible and IR spectral regions. It is sho wn that the light can be used as a very effective regulated 'external field ' to control locally supramolecular structure and the optical properties of polymer films. The synthesized polymers are shown to be promising candidat es for colour data recording. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.