Reversible switching of the shear modulus of photoresponsive liquid-crystalline polymers.

Manipulation makes light work: The morphology and rheological properties of a liquid-crystalline system can be dynamically manipulated with UV light by attaching photoresponsive liquid-crystalline moieties to a siloxane-based polymer. Stimulation with UV light induces a conformational change in the molecule, which disrupts the liquid-crystalline mesophase (see picture), and results in a dramatic change in its rheological properties.