Bistability excellence

In principle any molecule able to exist in two reversible, switchable states can represents a molecular switch (bistable device) with potential to form part of molecular circuitry or act as molecular memory. An excellent component for switchable molecular devices is the 1,2-dithienylethene system, which has been exploited ingeniously by Lehn in a number of bistable systems.54 The core switching element is the transformation of the dithienylethene unit between two stable states as a function of the wavelength of incident radiation (Scheme 11.8). 

PTBA also exhibits excellent strain fixity (ability to retain its actuated shape upon cooling) and strain recovery. In its softened state PTBA also possesses excellent actuation properties with a breakdown field strength in excess of 250 MV/m, a maximum strain of 335% in area, a maximum actuation stress of 3.2 MPa and an energy density of 1.2 J cm , values that rival even the best of the conventional dielectric elastomer materials. The BSEP is the first active material that possesses bistable actuation with high strain and specific power density. 

We present a detailed theoretical calculation, with experimental verification, of the nonlocal molecular reorientation of the nematic-liquid-crystal director axis induced by a cw Gaussian laser beam. The natures of the torque balance equations and the solutions are significantly different for normally and nonnormally incident laser beams. The nonlocal effects resulting from molecular correlation effects are particularly important for laser spot sizes that are different (smaller or larger) from the sample thickness. Experimental measurements for the transverse dependence of the molecules and the dependence of the Freedericksz threshold as a function of the laser beam sizes are in excellent agreement with theoretical results. We also comment on the effect of these nonlocal effects on transverse optical bistability. 

The application of a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film for the alignment layer was found to be efficient for improving the bistability [32]. Very thin films are responsible for realizing excellent bistability because of the transmissivity of electrical charges accumulated on the surfaces. 

On the other hand, in the cell with a stripe-shaped texture formed by applying a 15 V im , 10 Hz AC voltage at the transition from SmA phase to SmC phase, the realization of excellent bistability was confirmed even with a short pitch length and a large spontaneous polarization. For this kind of cell, the structure of horizontal chevrons as shown in Fig. 6.3.21 is proposed. 

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