Synthesis and characterization of naphthalene-based banana-shaped liquid crystals for photoswitching properties

Abstract

A series of banana-shaped monomers containing naphthalene as central units, azobenzene in side arms with terminal alkenes were synthesized and characterized. Polarizing optical microscopy, DSC and X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that one compound processes a nematic phase while other four compounds exhibit B6 phase. The absorption spectrum of trans-azobenzene displays high-intensity π-π* transition at 365 and low-intensity n-π* transition at 450 nm. These molecules exhibit strong photoisomerisation behaviour in solutions in which trans to cis isomerisation takes 55 seconds whereas reverse process takes about 32 hours. Such a long thermal back relaxation is useful for creation of optical image storage devices.