Phototropic liquid crystals (PtLCs), in which phase transitions can be controlled by light, are a new class of liquid crystal materials possessing a number of potential applications, especially in photonic devices. However, so far most PtLC materials, and thereby their applications, have been realized by doping a classical liquid crystal with a photochromic dye. In the present paper, a novel PtLC material comprising only a single component is reported, as well as its possible application in photonic devices, such as permanent and dynamic optical memory devices. These results open a new approach to PtLC materials comprising a single component and point out new possibilities in the construction of devices using LCs fully controlled by light.
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