Electro-optical Properties of (Anisotropic Polymer Network Formed by Discotic Liquid Crystalline Monomer/Liquid Crystals) Composite Systems

Abstract

[Polymer/liquid crystal (LC)] composite films are practically applied for switchable windows. In this study, mesomorphic characteristics, aggregation states and electro-optical switching effects of the composite systems composed of a polymer network formed by discotic liquid crystalline monomer and low molecular weight nematic liquid crystals (LCs) have been investigated. An anisotropic polymer network was formed in the antiparallel rubbing cell by photopolymerizing the discotic LC monomer in mesophases. The new composite system showed the light-switching behavior with a high contrast. The rise response time of the composite system was 0.68 ms at an applied voltage of 20 Vrms at 298 K. On the other hand, the decay response time of the composite was 17.2 ms at 298 K.