Dynamics of phase separation and morphology of polymer stabilized liquid crystals

Lanfang Li; Carmen Otilia Catanescu; Liang-Chy Chien

doi:10.1117/12.767379

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29 January 2008 Dynamics of phase separation and morphology of polymer stabilized liquid crystals

Lanfang Li, Carmen Otilia Catanescu, Liang-Chy Chien

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Proceedings Volume 6911, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies III; 69110L (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.767379
Event: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices 2008, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

The authors report the effect of dynamics of phase separation on the formation of well ordered polymer structure in polymer stabilized liquid crystals. We obtained spatially-ordered polymer walls formed throughout the sample (in the film direction) and between the two substrates by the polymerization induced phase separation using a small amount of photomonomer dissolved in the host liquid crystal (LC). By varying parameters, such as type of LC, light intensity for polymerization, and concentration of the components, we are able to alter the phase-separation process and control the polymer wall formation. The polymer morphology largely depends on the director field-driven anisotropic diffusion during the phase separation process. We also found that the morphology of the ordered polymer structures provides a means of "imaging" important and potentially novel aspects of the pattern-forming LC states for new applications.

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Lanfang Li, Carmen Otilia Catanescu, and Liang-Chy Chien "Dynamics of phase separation and morphology of polymer stabilized liquid crystals", Proc. SPIE 6911, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies III, 69110L (29 January 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.767379

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