The effect of geometric and electric constraints on the performance of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals with a double-handed circularly polarized light reflection band

Sabrina Relaix (1) , Michel Mitov (1, 2)

1 CEMES - Centre d'élaboration de matériaux et d'études structurales
2 CEMES-NeO - Nano-Optique et Nanomatériaux pour l'optique

Polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals ͑PSCLCs͒ with a double-handed circularly polarized reflection band are fabricated. The geometric and electric constraints appear to be relevant parameters in obtaining a single-layer CLC structure with a clear-cut double-handed circularly polarized reflection band since light scattering phenomena can alter the reflection properties when the PSCLC is cooled from the elaboration temperature to the operating one. A compromise needs to be found between the LC molecule populations, which are bound to the polymer network due to strong surface effects or not. Besides, a monodomain texture is preserved if the PSCLC is subjected to an electric field at the same time as the thermal process intrinsic to the elaboration process. As a consequence, the light scattering is reduced and both kinds of circularly polarized reflected light beams are put in evidence. Related potential applications are smart reflective windows for the solar light management or reflective polarizer-free displays with higher brightness.

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]; Optique [physics.optics]

Sabrina Relaix, Michel Mitov. The effect of geometric and electric constraints on the performance of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals with a double-handed circularly polarized light reflection band. Journal of Applied Physics, 2008, 104 (3), pp.033539. ⟨10.1063/1.2968245⟩. ⟨hal-02887327⟩