Electro-Optic Properties of Holographically Patterned, Polymer Stabilized Cholesteric Liquid Crystals (Preprint)

摘要

Electro-optic properties of cholesteric liquid crystals with holographically patterned polymer stabilization were examined. It is hypothesized that increasing the LC domain size in a single dimension, relative to a random 3-D network of LC pockets separated by polymer strands, will allow for enhanced electro-optic properties of the final device. Prior to holographic patterning, polymer stabilization with large elastic memory was generated by way of high irradiation intensities and optimized material choices. High irradiation intensities are required for the holographic patterning process to maintain polymer layer formation. At optimized conditions, polymer patterning of the stabilization allowed for an approximate 20% increase in the clear state transmission of the device, and allowed for 3 Vmicron reduction in the overall switching voltage as compared to an analogous floodlit irradiated sample. Switching times were increased at most three-fold with holographic patterning, but all relaxation times were below 20 ms. These enhanced electro-optic properties appear to stem from a single dimension domain size increase, which allows for a reduction in the LC/polymer interaction.