Electrically switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials
First Claim
1. A method for forming a hologram, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mixture comprising a polymerizable monomer and a second phase material;
inducing photopolymerization by illuminating the mixture with a light pattern; and
modulating a dielectric constant of the mixture.
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Abstract
A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for forming a hologram, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mixture comprising a polymerizable monomer and a second phase material; inducing photopolymerization by illuminating the mixture with a light pattern; and modulating a dielectric constant of the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for making an anisotropic spatial distribution of phase-separated liquid crystal droplets within a photochemically cured polymer matrix, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing between at least two optically transparent electrode plates, a mixture that comprises, before exposure; (a) a polymerizable monomer comprising multifunctional aliphatic and aromatic thiols; (b) an allyl ether or multifunctional acrylate; (c) a liquid crystal; and (d) a photoinitiator; and exposing this mixture to light in an interference pattern. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification