Liquid crystal elastomers
First Claim
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1. A method of making an electro-optic device comprising a layer of a thin elastomer film having an aligned chiral smectic C phase, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a cell comprising two cell walls spaced apart, the walls'"'"' inner surfaces having formed thereon electrode structures;
(b) providing a mixture comprising a smectic liquid crystal monomer material and cross-linking agent;
(c) introducing the mixture of step (b) between the cell walls, and thereafter (d) polymerizing the mixture such that an amount of elastomer is formed.
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Abstract
This invention describes a method for the loading and alignment of elastomers in electro-optic and electro-active devices. It comprises the in-situ polymerization between substrates of liquid crystal monomers in the presence of cross-linking reagents. It also describes the production of free-standing elastomer films.
52 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of making an electro-optic device comprising a layer of a thin elastomer film having an aligned chiral smectic C phase, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a cell comprising two cell walls spaced apart, the walls'"'"' inner surfaces having formed thereon electrode structures;
(b) providing a mixture comprising a smectic liquid crystal monomer material and cross-linking agent;
(c) introducing the mixture of step (b) between the cell walls, and thereafter (d) polymerizing the mixture such that an amount of elastomer is formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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13. A method of making a thin layer of elastomer film comprising an aligned chiral smectic C phase, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a cell comprising two cell walls of which at least one of the cell walls is flexible, said cell walls being spaced apart;
(b) providing a mixture comprising a smectic liquid crystal monomer material and cross-linking reagent;
(c) introducing the mixture between the cell walls;
(d) polymerizing the mixture; and
(e) removing the elastomer film from between the cell walls. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A device comprising two spaced cell walls of which at least one of the cell walls is flexible, said cell walls being spaced apart, and a layer of a liquid crystal elastomer comprising an aligned chiral smectic phase enclosed between the cell walls.
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18. A method of making an electro-active device comprising a thin elastomer film having a smectic liquid crystal, said process comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a cell comprising two cell walls spaced apart, the walls inner surfaces having formed thereon electrode structure (b) providing a mixture comprising a smectic liquid crystal monomer material and cross linking agent;
(c) introducing the mixture between the cell walls; and
(d) polymerizing the mixture such that an amount of elastomer is formed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. A device comprising a cell wall, said cell wall having deposited thereon a layer of a liquid crystal elastomer comprising an aligned chiral sectic phase.
Specification