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Updated: Feb 23, 2026
High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal
Published on: October 31, 2019
Interpenetrating polymer networks of liquid-crystalline azobenzene polymers and poly(dimethylsiloxane) as photomobile
1Research and Development Initiative, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. tikeda@tamacc.chuo-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
We developed photomobile polymer materials with interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structures composed of crosslinked liquid-crystalline azobenzene polymer (PAzo) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). By introducing PDMS into a PAzo template network, IPN was formed without disturbing the alignment of mesogens in the PAzo network. The films showed macroscopic bending behavior upon irradiation with UV and visible light. Although the IPN film showed a phase separated structure, the bending speed was significantly enhanced compared with the pristine film of PAzo, thanks to the soft nature of PDMS. The present method of preparing IPNs can be a promising approach to combine PAzo with various polymers and enhance the mechanical and photoresponsive properties.
