Photorefractivity in nematic liquid crystals containing electron donor-acceptor molecules that undergo intramolecular charge separation

Journal Article · Wed Apr 09 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja963812x· OSTI ID:535447

Wiederrecht, G P; Svec, W A ^[1]; Yoon, B A ^[2]; Wasielewski, M R ^[3]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
3. Agonne National Lab., IL (United States)

We report photorefractivity in nematic liquid crystals doped with electron donor-acceptor molecules that undergo intramolecular photoinduced charge separation. We show that subsequent intermolecular electron transfer from the intramolecular ion pairs to neutral donor-acceptor molecules is responsible for the charge migration over macroscopic distances that is required to produce photorefractivity. The results are compared to nematic liquid crystals doped with identical unlinked donors and acceptors that can achieve charge separation only through intermolecular electron transfer. We find that the liquid crystals doped with molecules that first undergo intramolecular charge separation exhibit superior photorefractivity when compared to the same liquid crystals doped with unlinked donors and acceptors. The differing mechanisms for charge generation and charge transport in these liquid crystal composites are analyzed. 43 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 535447
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 119; ISSN JACSAT; ISSN 0002-7863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
66 PHYSICS
BINDING ENERGY
CHARGE TRANSPORT
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ELECTRONS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
REFRACTIVE INDEX
VALENCE