The effects of azo-oxadiazole-based bent-shaped molecules on the temperature range and the light-responsive performance of blue phase liquid crystal

Yong-Bo Yua, Wan-Li He*ab, Zi-Mo Jiangc, Zhao-Feng Yua, Lei Rena, Ying Lua, Zhou Yangab, Hui Caoab & Dong Wangaba Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, P.R. Chinab Beijing Key Laboratory of Function Materials for Molecule & Structure Construction, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, P.R. Chinac Experimental School Affiliated to Haidian Teachers Training College, Beijing, P.R. ChinaCONTACT Wan-Li He hewanli@mater.ustb.edu.cnABSTRACTA series of light-responsive azo-oxadiazole-based bent-shaped molecules was synthesised and characterised. Their effects as dopants on the blue phases (BPs) range of the chiral nematic liquid crystal (N*LC) matrix and light-responsive properties including the photo-inducing change of UV absorption properties, photo-adjusting the BP structure as well as the temperature range were investigated. It was found that the azo-oxadiazole-based bent-shaped molecules with branched terminal had better miscibility in LC host than the molecules with straight terminal, and that increasing the length of rigid core of bent-shaped molecules will greatly improve the effect of widening the BP temperature range.