Extended Data Fig. 3: Optical response of azobenzene-containing molecules and monopole-like platelets in a nematic LC.
From: Elastic colloidal monopoles and reconfigurable self-assembly in liquid crystals
a, Absorbance spectrum of the photosensitive molecules of derivative methyl red in toluene at a concentration of 5 × 10−5 M. The spectrum was obtained using a 1-cm-thick cuvette with a spectrometer (Cary 500, Varian). b, Time dependence of the azimuthal orientation angle of the platelet upon switching on the blue excitation light at time t ≈ 1.2 s, showing how the monopole moment is turned on upon light exposure. c, Time dependence of the azimuthal orientation angle of the platelet relative to its equilibrium position upon switching off the blue excitation light at t = 0 s.
