Homogeneous mixtures of photoisomerizable azobenzene dyes with smectic-C* (
SmC* ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) are photoresponsive ferroelectric
s photoferroelectrics) where the trans-to-cis photoisomerization of the azo
benzene molecules result in a pronounced modulation of the ferroelectric pr
operties. FLCs with high photoresponse of the spontaneous polarization had
been obtained by dissolving small amounts of azobenzene dyes in the ferroel
ectric SmC* host phase FLC 6430. In the absence of light the properties of
the mixtures are not significantly different from those of the pure host ph
ase. Irradiation with light of appropriate wavelength considerably reduces
the spontaneous polarization of these mixtures. After removal of the light
source, the initial dark value is reversibly recovered by thermal cis-to-tr
ans reisomerization. Time-resolved measurements are discussed with respect
to the dynamics of these photoinduced changes.