M. Macchione

Morphology and electro-optical properties of reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystals

We have investigated the morphology and electro-optical properties of reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystals as a function of liquid crystal loading. Reverse mode shutters have been obtained by a polymerization-induced phase separation of mixtures, consisting of a liquid crystalline monomer and a non-reactive nematic liquid crystal, placed between rough conductive surfaces. Such surfaces are able to keep the photopolymerizable mixtures homeotropically aligned without the use of any aligning polymer substrate. OFF state transmittances are always larger than 80% and the switching fields decrease if the non-reactive liquid crystal percentage is increased. Both rise and decay times are always lower than 10 ms. The electro-optical properties have been related to the sample morphology and a simple mode is proposed.

Rough surfaces for orientation control in reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystal films

Reverse mode operation shutters have been achieved with polymer dispersed liquid crystals by means of polymerization-induced phase separation of nematic mixtures consisting of a low molecular mass liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline monomer. Fluid mixtures were homeotropically aligned by rough surfaces and transparent films were obtained after polymerization. Transmittance in the OFF state can be larger than 80% and decreases to less than 1% when an electric field of about 2 V μm-1 at 1 kHz is applied (ON state). Both rise and decay times can be lower than 10 ms and the drop in the OFF state normal transmittance is drastically reduced with respect to conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystals since samples exhibit a reverse morphology. The role played by surface roughness is also discussed.

Orientation control of liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a polymer matrix

The encapsulation of monomer molecules in liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix provides a convenient method to control the orientation of liquid crystal directors. The imprint of droplet interfaces is obtained by photopolymerization of monomer molecules by means of a polymerization induced phase separation process performed in a magnetic field. In such a way, uniform orientations of liquid crystal directors can be achieved in cells without any surface treatment. The concentration of monomer molecules is an important parameter, which influences the final electro-optical properties of films.

Photochromic reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Control of light intensity and colour are two of the major features required in the realization of smart windows. We designed a bi‐functional polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film in order to satisfy such requirements, i.e. it is able both to modulate the optical transmission, if an external electric field is applied, and to change colour if exposed to sunlight. A monomer/liquid crystal mixture was doped with a small amount of photochromic material and homeotropically aligned by means of rough surfaces. A transparent and pale pink coloured film was achieved after photopolymerization. Such a film changes colour upon exposure for some seconds to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation in a persistent but reversible manner. In addition, the film appears transparent without the application of an electric field (OFF state) and becomes opaque on application of a driving voltage of about 75 V (ON state), and thus the film operates in reverse mode with respect to conventional PDLCs.

Surface anchoring, polarization fields and memory states in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

We have investigated the formation and development of memory states in polymer dispersed liquid crystals induced by the application of a strong electric field. Both the optical transmittance and polarization field have been followed as functions of time. We have been able to distinguish between the contributions to the memory states arising from the surface anchoring of the liquid crystal at the droplet interface and from the electrical reorientation of the mesogenic molecules. The dependence of both residual transmittance and polarization field on temperature is reported and a simple model is proposed.

Electrically induced changes in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

This letter reports the changes induced in polymer dispersed liquid crystal films by applying high intensity electric fields (charge process). It has been observed that lower reorientation fields and sharper OFF–ON transitions characterize samples after the charge process. Scanning electron microscopy and dielectric investigation show that the charge process induces both a morphology and a dielectric variation in films. Nevertheless a reduction in the surface anchoring energy of the liquid crystal at droplet interface has been postulated as the changes in the dielectric properties and droplet size cannot entirely justify the enhancement of electro-optical properties. The role played by the temperature at which the charge process is performed is also discussed.

Quasilinear electro-optical response in a polymer-dispersed nematic liquid crystal

Polymer-dispersed nematic liquid crystals are known to exhibit a quadratic electro-optic response. For practical applications, a linear dependence on the applied electric field is often required. In this letter, polymer-dispersed nematic liquid crystal films with a built-in dc electric field are shown to be good electro-optical devices with a linear response. The built-in electric field is obtained by energizing films with an external dc field. The electro-optical response dependence on the strength and frequency of the driving field is discussed.

Liquid crystal orientation in elliptic droplets in nematic emulsions

Elliptic droplets of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in a fluid organic monomer were obtained by phase separation from an isotropic mixture consisting of an organic monomer and a nematic liquid crystal contained in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) cell with inner surfaces treated with rubbed polyimide. The elliptic shape is a consequence of the constraint upon droplet growth along the direction perpendicular to the cell surfaces owing to the small thickness. Then, the resulting droplets will have a contact area with the inner surfaces of the cell treated with polyimide, which will impart a planar orientation on the liquid crystal in the droplet. By means of an optical microscope, using a simple pin hole of 5 μ m, we have selected single droplets for a series of samples having different contact areas. By polarized infrared spectroscopy we have also studied the liquid crystal orientation in selected areas of the droplets. We then report the dependence of the order parameter of the liquid crystal on different contact areas with the alignment surface of the cell. The good degree of planar alignment of the liquid crystal in the elliptic droplets allows the use of such a technique for realizing electro-optical films operating in the reverse mode. We report the electro-optical transmission of reverse mode films with different sizes of elliptic droplet.

Characterization and Alignment Properties of Rough Substrates

Abstract We have determined by atomic force microscopy the average roughness of substrates covered with a different indium tin oxide (ITO) thickness. We have found that the higher the ITO thickness is the higher the roughness. Then, the preferential alignment of liquid crystalline mixtures, formed by a low molecular weight liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline monomer, on such substrates has been investigated. Samples have turned out to be homeotropically aligned by surface interactions. These cells have been UV irradiated in order to achieve the photo-polymerization of the liquid crystalline monomer. We have found that rougher surfaces are able to store the homeotropic alignment in the anisotropic polymer matrix. The order degree of polymerized films has been estimated as a function of liquid crystal content.

Flow-induced grating from cholesteric mixtures

In this work we present a new technique for obtaining large diffraction gratings (some cm) by means of a simple filling of cells having a planar treatment of their inner surfaces. A homogeneous mixture, composed of a cholesteric liquid crystal and a nematic liquid crystal monomer, was used. During the filling process, the flow induces a phase separation between the cholesteric liquid crystal and the liquid crystal monomer and, at the same time, the latter is oriented planar to the surfaces of the cell. Phase separation produces alternate arrays constituted by the cholesteric liquid crystal and the nematic liquid crystal monomer. Successive UV polymerization of these films yields a permanent grating. We have investigated the transmitted and first order diffracted beam efficiency for films obtained at different temperatures. The morphology of the films was studied by using an optical microscope equipped with crossed polarizers and by electron microscopy in order to control the shape of the arrays and the alignment of the oriented polymer.