Dataset for All-Optical 3D Blue Phase Photonic Crystal Switch with Photosensitive Dopants

Objectives: To evaluate the behavior of Blue Phase liquid crystals when doped with photosensitive dopants.Methods: Several photosensitive dopants were synthesized and added to Blue Phase liquid crystal precursor mixtures. After the Blue Phases were formed, the isomerization of said photosensitive dopants was tested by illuminating the samples switching back and forth at different wavelegths.Results: Two switching modes have been achieved, one where the BP reversibly migrates between two Blue Phase phases, (BPI and BPII, two different cubic crystal systems) while maintaining the monocrystallinity of the whole system. The second mode, again reversible, switches between BPI and isotropic state. None of these modes are related to the regular thermal transitions between liquid crystal phases; switching is triggered by light pulses of different wavelengths.The dataset includes the synthetic procedures and mesomorphic behavior of the new photosensitive dopants.File list: File 1. General synthetic experimentalSynthethic procedures for:(E)-1-(4-Ethoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-[4-(hexyloxy)phenyl]diazene (MCF526)Ethyl (E)-4-((4-amino-2,6-dimethylphenyl)diazenyl)benzoate (3) Ethyl (E)-4-((4-cyano-2,6-dimethylphenyl)diazenyl)benzoate (4) (E)-4-((4-Cyano-2,6-dimethylphenyl)diazenyl)benzoate (MCF528) (E)-3,5-difluoro-4-{[4-(hexyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl}phenol (1b) (E)-3,5-Difluoro-4-{[4-(hexyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl}phenyl 4-butoxybenzoate (MCF613)(E)-4-{[4-(Hexyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl}-3,5-dimethylphenyl 4-butoxybenzoate (MCF619)File 2. Mesomorphic behavior of new photosensitive dopantsPhases and phase transition temperatures of new photosensitive dopantsPhotos of characteristic textures obtained on cooling for new photosensitive dopantsThe second heating and cooling DSC runs (10 Kmin-1) for photosensitive dopantsFile 3: UV-Vis spectral data for PDsUV-Vis absorption maxima and corresponding absorption coefficientsUV-Vis absorption coefficients of PDs at the used illumination wavelengths, measured in 1,2-dichloroethane.File 4 - FIGURE 1 - Synthetic pathway for the designed PDs. - relates to File 1.File 5 - FIGURE 2 - Photos of characteristic textures obtained on cooling for new photosensitive dopants - relates to File 2File 6 - FIGURE 3 - Second heating (red) and cooling (blue) DSC runs (10 Kmin-1) for photosensitive dopants: relates File 2