Liquid crystal films grown by pulsed laser deposition

The deposition of 5CB 4-cyano-41-pentylbiphenyl.liquid crystal films using different laser wavelengths 193 nm ArF., 308 nm XeCl.and 10.6 mm CO2..over a range of fluences up to 3 J cmy2 . has been investigated. Optical microscopy, visible–UV and infrared absorption spectroscopy have been employed to analyse the properties of the deposited material. Films with optical properties similar to those of the starting material and with no detectable degradation are obtained by using the XeCl laser, whereas ArF and CO2 lasers produce severe and partial decomposition of the deposited material respectively. The results are discussed in terms of differences in the laser–liquid crystal interaction process for the wavelengths involved. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved