Understanding Azobenzene-Containing Liquid Crystal Systems: Molecular Design, Confinement, and Condensed Phase Isomerization Kinetics

Liquid crystals are a state that combine the flow properties of a liquid with molecular alignment similar to a crystalline solid. By incorporating the light-responsive azobenzene functional group, stimuli-response can be built into liquid crystal systems. Behaviour of these systems is dependent on multiple factors including molecular structure, concentration, and temperature, as well as requiring changing descriptions of their behaviour across different length-scales. This thesis explores relationships defining the behaviour of azobenzene-based systems across various length-scales, from molecular design and synthesis, to intermolecular aggregate structure, material fabrication, and light-induced trans to cis isomerization kinetics in concentrated systems.