Polarized infrared study of a polymer network deformation in a nematic liquid crystal host

Abstract

Using polarized infrared (IR) spectroscopy we have observed deformation of a polymer network in a liquid crystal host during the reorientation of the liquid crystal by an external electric field. In the system studied, containing 2% BMBB-6 polymerized at zero applied field in the host nematic liquid crystal 6CB, the observed deformation angle was between 20^o and 40^o 10^o. These experimental results provide some of the first conclusive experimental evidence that the polymer network elastically deforms as a direct result of the reorientation of the liquid crystal host.