Dynamical thermo-optical switching based on nematic liquid crystals doped with push–pull azobenzene dyes

Abstract Thermo-optical properties of push–pull azobenzene dyes doped nematic liquid crystals was investigated and experimentally demonstrated. The dynamical variations of transmission upon a CW Nd:YAG laser exposure at room temperature were determined by laser intensity, azobenzene dye concentration and sample temperature. Transmission behaviors at different temperatures were distinct, which resulted from oscillation transmittance performance of nematic liquid crystals with temperature variation and photoisomerization process of azobenzene dye. Our experimental results demonstrated that the dynamical thermo-optical change in azobenzene dye doped nematic liquid crystals could be a promising candidate for thermo-optical controller.