A new molecular architecture consist of the liquid crystals decorated gold nanoparticles having azobenzenes moieties as the peripheral units connected to gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via alkyl groups were synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differentialudscanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The thiolated ligand molecules (3a-c) showed smectic A phase, whereas gold nanoparticles (5a-c) exhibit nematic phase. TEM measurement showed that the functionalized Au NPs are well dispersed without any aggregation and size ofudthe nanoparticles about 2 nm. The trans-form of azo compounds showed a strong band in the UV region at ∼378 nm for the �–�∗ transition, and a weak band in the visible region at ∼472 nm due to the n–�∗ transition. These molecules exhibit strong photoisomerization behaviour in which trans-cis take 18 second for compound 5c, whereas cis-trans take place about 45 min. Thus, the photoswitching behaviour of these materials may be suitably exploited in the field of molecular switches and optical storage devices.
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