Polymer-dispersed and encapsulated liquid crystal films

Abstract

Thin polymer films containing microdroplets of liquid crystalline (LC) material are potentially use- ful for a variety of electro-optic applications because they can be switched electrically from a light scattering state to a transparent state.1-20 In this chapter, we shall describe the structure, opera- tion, and preparation of these films and review their electro-optic properties. Although electronic information displays are a very promising application of these films, we will not discuss topics such as full color capability19 or addressing schemes, which are unique to display applications. Rather, we shall emphasize those electro-optic characteristics which are important for control of solar radiation in buildings and automobiles; some of these, of course, are also important for display applications. We shall also restrict our discussion to films containing nematic LC droplets.