Optical properties of colloid liquid crystal composites

H Nakamura, S P Meeker, Y Taira, Wilson Poon, J Crain

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Colloid-liquid crystal composites are a recently discovered class of soft solid comprising a dense dispersion of spherical colloidal particles in a liquid crystalline host with unusual mechanical properties, We applied this class of system to a variety of liquid crystal device modes such as twist nematic, homogenous aligned, White-Taylor GH and reflective cholesteric devices. The observed electro-optical response suggests that the local viscosity (controlling molecular reorientation) is decoupled from the (much higher) bulk viscosity, Over a wide range of particle concentrations across the full temperature range of the nematic phase, strong electro-optical switching is observed for 5CB and several of the commercially available liquid crystal mixtures. Contrast ratio, viewing angle characteristics, switching time and optical hysteresis exhibit a significant dependencies on particle density. We also demonstrate that how morphologies of the liquid crystal confined between the substrates affect the optical properties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3935-3942
Number of pages8
JournalMolecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology - Section A: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Volume368
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • colloid
  • liquid crystal
  • optical properties
  • display device
  • PARTICLES

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