Mechanism of Orientational Pattern Formation Induced by Gradient Photopolymerization

Abstract

Since liquid crystals (LC) show optical anisotropy, the distribution of refractive indices can be modulated by controlling their molecular orientation. Thus, LC materials can be applied to various optical materials. We have found that periodic molecular orientation patterns of LC are spontaneously formed by gradient photopolymerization of LC monomer and non-polymerizable LC molecules. We assume that the key to this phenomenon is the liquid crystallinity of the producing polymers and non-polymerizable molecules. In this study, we discussed the effect of liquid crystallinity on inducing this phenomenon.