Reversal of circularly polarized luminescence direction and an “on-off” switch driven by exchange between UV light irradiation and the applied direct current electric field

We report the rational design of a dual stimulus-activated quaternary chiral emission nematic liquid crystals(Q-N*-LCs)containing light-driven chiral dopant R-S-R-1,a static chiral dopant S-2 and an achiral Nile Red(NR) in a nematic liquid crystal(SLC1717).The dopant R-S-R-1 acts as a dynamic chiral donor and an energy donor,and the achiral NR serves as a circularly polarized luminescence(CPL) emitter and energy acceptor.Interestingly,this kind of Q-N*-LCs appears reversal CPL emission direction(L-CPL) using 365 nm UV light irradiation compared with the initial state(R-CPL).Most importantly,the “On-Off”CPL switch behavior of Q-N*-LCs can be repeatedly driven by revoking or rearranging the applied direct current(DC) electric field.An OR chiral information logic gate demonstrates that this dual driven Q-N*-LCs can be potentially used for chiral information storage and coding.