Structuring cholesteric polysiloxanes by photoinduced rotational diffusion

Abstract

Cholesteric polysiloxanes containing an azo dye were irradiated with linearly or circularly polarized laser light or with the unpolarized light from a HgXe lamp. Photoinduced rotational diffusion was observed leading to new textures with a completely different orientational distribution of the chromophoric and the mesogenic side chains. A broad variety of new structures was detected depending on the polarization state of the light, the helical arrangement of the azo dye and the optional application of an electrical d.c. field. The new structures were characterized by spectroscopy with polarized light. Co-operative reorientation of chromophoric and mesogenic side chains was proven. The formation of a Bragg grating upon short term irradiation with linearly polarized light was observed. Continued irradiation leads in most cases to a strongly birefringent texture with a high dichroic ratio of the azo dye resembling a planar nematic texture. With circularly polarized light or with unpolarized light, a uniaxial homeotropic texture appeared predominantly. The formation of the new textures occurred in the glassy state of the samples leading to new structures with good optical quality and an exceptionally good long-term stability.