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Abstract
Novel side chain liquid crystalline polymer blends containing immiscible non‐chiral and cholesteric polymers were prepared. A non‐chiral polymer was used containing azobenzene side groups capable of E–Z photoisomerization. Phase behaviour and miscibility properties of the blends were studied. Thin films of the blends were prepared by spin‐coating; it was shown that just after preparation these films are optically isotropic and homogeneous. Photo‐ and chiro‐optical properties of the films as well as photo‐orientation phenomena induced by the action of polarized light were investigated. It was found that the photo‐optical behavior of these films is rather complicated and considerably different from the properties of both individual components. This difference is associated with the strong influence of blend morphology on the photo‐optical properties.
Ackowledgements
This research was supported by the Russian Foundation of Fundamental Research (05‐03‐33193) and Federal Scientific Technical Program (Agreement MN‐476/05‐MSU in the framework of Contract No 02.434.11.2025). A.B. gratefully acknowledges the Russian Science Support Foundation, and the research fellowships provided by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and INTAS (Ref. No. 03‐55‐956).