Exploring liquid crystal properties with AFM

Abstract

The photomechanical properties of the liquid crystal 8CB doped with the organic molecule 7AB were examined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) by using different cantilevers of varying stiffnesses with different AFM techniques (manual approach/automatic approach). Such research of light-activated materials is expected to play an important role in industry in the near future. Unexpected adhesion between tip and sample, and viscoelastic properties of 8CB were observed. The work done on the AFM probe was calculated to be 7*10?? J