Optically Switchable Transparent Liquid Crystal Display

Abstract

We demonstrated a new transparent display which consists of an optically switchable transparent polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), UV LED and visible projector. UV irradiation changed the PNLC film from the transparent mode to the screen mode. Also, blue light returned it from the screen state to the transparent state. This switching was achieved by the change of helical twisting power (HTP) between trans and cis state of azobenzene mixed with liquid crystal.