Surface relief grating in hybrid films composed of azobenzene polymer and liquid crystal molecule

Generation of surface relief grating (SRG) in hybrid films containing an azobenzene-functionalized polymer (6Az10-PVA) and a nematic liquid crystal molecule, 4′-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) is described. The sinusoidally modulated surface structures due to large-scale substance migration in the hybrid film were formed upon exposure to interferometric argon ion (Ar+) laser beam in a strikingly short period. An obvious stoichiometric character in the mixing ratio was observed to achieve the most efficient mass transfer in this binary composite system. The stability and erasion of SRG in the heating process was also investigated.