Photo-responsive and electrically switchable mesophases in a novel class of achiral bent-core azo compoundsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: colour versions of Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/jm/b3/b314482h/

Abstract

The first examples of electrically switchable and photo-responsive mesophases in a novel class of bent-core azo compounds, consisting of only five aromatic rings and no imino functionality (–CHN–), are reported. The mesophases have been identified as B1, B2 and a new mesophase, Bx, on the basis of the results of polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and electro-optical response. Preliminary but profound photo-induced effects on the transition temperature from isotropic to the B2 mesophase of one of the azo compounds are also presented.