Preparation and Optical Properties of a Reverse-Mode Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Film

Abstract

Two new types of reverse-mode polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films have been developed and successfully produced. The first was produced by UV-curing of a mixture of dual frequency addressable liquid crystal (DFALC) and UV-curable polymers under an applied voltage at a frequency lower than the crossover frequency (f_c) of the DFALC. This first type is referred to as a dual frequency type. The second type was produced by injecting a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy into a specially prepared porous polymer film from which liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy had previously been extracted. The type thus produced through such “negative-for-positive” substitution is referred to as a substitution type. While the dual frequency type can not be driven at a low frequency, substitution type can, which gives it a distinct advantage. Other electro-optic characteristics of the two types of films, including alignment properties of the liquid crystal molecules, are also discussed.