The nature of charge injection has been investigated across the Au-poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) interface of two kinds: P3HT on Au (bottom contact) and Au on P3HT (top contact). The $J\text{-}V$ characteristics of a Au(bottom)/P3HT/Au(top) sandwich cell are analyzed by using the Fowler–Nordheim model and the hole barrier height at the top and bottom contacts has been estimated. The top contact showed a higher barrier height in comparison to the bottom contact. The quenching of photoluminescence spectra and the disappearance of characteristic P3HT peaks from the absorption spectra for the top contact supports that the ionically sputtered gold atoms on the polymer give rise to greater density of interfacial trap sites than those at bottom interface.

We investigate experimentally the formation of focal conic domains of the ferroelectric phase of a liquid crystal, chiral smectic $C$ ($\mathrm{Sm}{C}^{*}$), in the meniscus geometry. The meniscus geometry is formed in the gap between two glass plates which are placed on a common substrate. This gap is called here a physical cavity. Focal conic domains (FCDs) in the physical cavity with dimensions of micrometer scale are investigated under an optical polarizing microscope which enables us to extract the information on the helical structure formation in the constraint and gradient topological meniscus interface. The helical pitch in the FCD is observed to be shorter than in planar confined geometry. A crucial phenomenon of unwrapping and wrapping of helical structure from one FCD to another is also observed. In-plane application of an electric field on a FCD revealed the asymmetric helical unwinding process whereas an increase in temperature has shown symmetrical unwinding. The helical structure based observation is significant for understanding the ferroelectric phase in focal conic domains and their application in microlenses and optical components.

Azo-containing liquid crystal elastomers are photomechanical materials that can be actuated via illumination. The photomechanical response is a result of the photoisomerization of the azo moiety, which produces bulk stresses in the material. These stresses arise via two distinct and competing mechanisms: order parameter change induced stress and direct contractile stress. We describe thermomechanical and photomechanical experiments aimed at assessing the relative contributions of these. We show that the details of the attachment of azo dyes to the network can greatly influence the photoresponse. We discuss our results and summarize our findings.

High tilt angle (45°) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) in surface stabilized geometry, having no chiral smectic A (SmA∗) phase, has been studied for the reorientation of the smectic layers near the transition temperature (Tc). The electro-optical studies have shown the stripe domain formation in which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the rubbing direction, but the smectic layers are tilted away from the rubbing direction at room temperature. In such high tilt angle FLCs, the molecular alignment and smectic layer formation start from bottom and top rubbed grooves at Tc. The domain formation of the FLC takes place in the middle of the top and bottom surfaces due to the frustration of the dipolar interaction. The smectic layer switching is observed by optical microscopy and confirmed by the dielectric spectroscopy method near Tc of SmC∗ and chiral nematic phases. Domain switching has shown a larger switching angle than the molecular tilt angle within the smectic layer. These studies are expected to be significant for understanding the smectic layer structure and the domain switching process, which may pave the way for large optical switching devices.

Azo-containing liquid crystal elatomers are photomechanical materials which can be actuated by illumination. The photomechanical response is a result of the photoisomerization of the azo moiety, which produces bulk stresses in the material. These stresses arise via two distinct and competing mechanisms: order parameter change induced stress and direct contractile stress. We describe thermomechanical and photomechanical experiments aimed at assessing the relative contributions of these. we discuss our results and summarize our findings.