Optical-field-induced Freeder- icksz transition of a nematic liquid crystal doped with dia-zophenyl

44'-(phenylazo)phenylazo]phenol was synthesized and characterized. Optical-induced Freedericksz transition of 5CB liquid crystal doped with trace diazophenyl was studied. It was observed that the doped 5CB dramatically decreased the optical field threshold, and the Freedericksz transition threshold occurred at optical intensity level of 0.3 mW/mm2 for the 12.5 μm thickness planar alignment doped 5CB, which is three orders of magnitude lower than that for the pure 5CB. This new phenomenon indicated that trans-cis isomerization of diazophenyl plays an important role in the decrease of the Freedericksz transition threshold.