In the present work, we report the synthesis, the mesomorphic behavior and the laser-induced optical characteristics of side-chain liquid crystalline azopolymers without a spacer, but substituted with a hexyloxy group. The azopolymers were studied by DSC, POM and XRD. Results have revealed that the monomer exhibits a nematic phase, whereas polymers develop a double layered SmC phase. Thin films of azopolymers exhibited good response to a laser beam irradiation. Surface relief gratings were recorded with the interference pattern produced by a 413nm circularly polarized laser beam.