Light-induced director-controlled microassembly of dye molecules from a liquid crystal matrix

We report on a light-induced phenomenon in dye-doped liquid crystals (LCs) with the distinctive features of molecular transport and assembly at micron scales. Under single-beam laser irradiation, the dye molecules phase separate from the LC host and assemble onto the cell substrate. Although the intensity of incident light is uniform within the irradiated area, the density of the adsorbed dye is modulated in accord with the director modulation of the LC. The dye molecules form a surface imprint that portrays orientational distortions of the LC host.