Conoscopic evidence of the UV light-induced flexoelectric effect in homeotropic layers of nematic liquid crystal doped with azobenzene derivatives

A digitalized version of the standard method of conoscopy was employed to register the bend deformation of molecular orientation in homeotropic nematic layers caused by an in-plane applied DC electric field, and influenced by UV light illumination. Two guest-host systems prepared by mixing of a nematic liquid crystal and an azobenzene-containing photochromic liquid crystalline material featuring a longitudinal molecular asymmetry, were studied. Upon continuous UV irradiation, a photo-isomerization of the photochromic molecules occurs resulting in an enhanced flexoelectric response of the guest-host mixtures. The dependence of the photoflexoeffect on the field strength and UV light intensity was also examined.