抄録
In this communication, we report on the disappearance of reflection color by photopolymerization of an acrylate monomer in lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystals from a cellulose derivative for color image applications. When a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) derivative possessing propionyl side chains (HPC-Pr) was homogeneously dissolved in a liquid monomer of 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (4HBA), we obtained lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystals (HPC-Pr_4HBA) with a Bragg reflection peak in the visible wavelength range. Such reflection wavelength was controllable by not only temperature, but also concentration of HPC-Pr in 4HBA. We found that Bragg reflection peak of lyotropic HPC-Pr_4HBA mixture disappears by photopolymerization of 4HBA, thereby leading to the fabrication of a photolithographic color image. This report provides promising clues to fabricate intriguing photonic devices adopted with cellulose derivatives by utilizing such Bragg reflection characteristics.