Direct current electric-field induced scattering behavior in lyotropic liquid crystalline cell composed of carbazolyl groups pendant polypeptide and TNF

Polypeptide having carbazolyl groups (poly(γ‐[2‐(9‐carbazolyl)ethyl]‐L‐glutamate) (PCLG)) was synthesized in order to prepare a lyotropic liquid crystalline cell with higher mobility. This liquid crystal was revealed to show d.c. electric‐field induced scattering behavior, in which the transparent cell became scattered after applying d.c. bias voltage. This behavior was enhanced by adding small amounts of 2,4,7‐trinitrofluorenone (TNF) which is known to form charge transfer complex with carbazole. The transmittance varied from 90 to 20% under d.c. bias application. More than 150 turn‐on and off cycles were achieved in this cell without serious degradation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.