Axis-selective photoreaction, photoinduced orientation, and formation of surface relief (SR) gratings of liquid crystalline polymethacrylates comprised of N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) derivative side groups are explored. Irradiating with linearly polarized (LP) 313 nm light generates molecular reorientation of the NBA side groups based on the axis-selective trans−cis−trans photoisomerization and photocleavage of the NBA groups. The inplane order parameter (S) and birefringence (Δn) are ∼0.53 and ∼0.16, respectively. Furthermore, thermally stimulated amplification of the photoinduced optical anisotropy occurs upon exposing films to LP 313 nm light and subsequently annealing in the liquid crystalline temperature range of the material. The amplified S and Δn values are ∼0.71 and ∼0.21, respectively. Finally, polarization holography using 325 nm He−Cd laser beams with various interferometric polarization conditions demonstrates the formation of SR gratings with a molecularly oriented structure based on the periodic photoinduced reorientation and molecular motion.
The photoinduced reorientation and surface relief (SR) formation behaviors of a novel photosensitive polymer, which was transparent in visible region, were investigated using linearly polarized-313-nm light and holographic exposure with a 325-nm He-Cd laser. The polymer was comprised of photosensitive 4-methoxy-N-benzylideneaniline side groups, and exhibited a sufficient photoinduced molecular reorientation with a birefringence of 0.11. Holographic exposure generated a SR structure, which had a periodical molecular reorientation that depended on the polarization of the interference beams. The generated SR height was ∼212 nm, and the inscription of a double holographic exposure yielded a two-dimensional SR structure
Many types of photoreactive polymers have been investigated
to regulate their molecularly orientated structures for polarization-controlled
optical and display applications. Herein, we demonstrate the axis-selective
photoreaction of thin films and their molecular reorientation behaviors
using four types liquid crystalline poly(meth)acrylates with phenyl
benzoate side groups and linearly polarized (LP) 248 nm light. These
simple liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) exhibit sufficient photoinduced
molecular reorientations. Photoinduced molecular reorientation based
on an axis-selective photo-Fries rearrangement is simultaneously generated
with an in-plane order parameter (S) up to 0.33 when
the irradiation temperature is in the lower part of the LC temperature
range of the material, but multidomain formation of the mesogenic
groups inhibits reorientation. To prevent thermally generated multidomain
formation, an axis-selective photoreaction of an amorphous film followed
by thermally generated self-organization processes effectively induce
molecular reorientation with S up to 0.71 and birefringence
(Δn) ∼ 0.16.
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