Dominating the present market of flat-panel displays, the liquid crystal (LC) display is generally based on the interactions of light and LCs. Recent progress in this field indicates that integrating photochromic molecules into LC materials enables one to photo-manipulate unique features such as photoinduced phase transition, photocontrolled alignment and phototriggered molecular cooperative motion, leading to their novel applications beyond displays. For instance, connecting with three-dimensionally cross-linked elastomers, LCs show photomechanical and photomobile properties, directly converting light energy into mechanical energy. Combining supramolecular cooperative motion with microphase separation of well-defined block copolymers, they exhibit controllable regular nanostructures on a macroscopic scale with excellent reproducibility and mass production.
The engrossing photoresponsive LC materials offer an effective and convenient chance to adjust properties of advanced materials by integrating photoresponsive molecules with LC properties, which has become one of the emerging topics in the present and future LC researches. Hence, it is timely to compile a comprehensive textbook on the nature of this type of materials and the ongoing progress in this research area, which will be useful to professionals working in this field. This book attempts to introduce readers to this field, from the primary- to the advanced level in photoresponsive LC materials. The subject is introduced step-by-step, including the basic knowledge of LCs, photoresponsive properties of LCs, and their detailed performances in the form of low-molecular-weight compound, polymer, cross-linked elastomer, and block copolymer.
