A novel light diffuser based on the combined morphology of polymer networks and polymer balls in a polymer dispersed liquid crystals film

Zhou, Le; Ma, Haipeng; Han, Chuanhui; Hu, Weisheng; Zhang, Shuaifeng; Zhang, Lanying; Yang, Huai

doi:10.1039/c8ra03426e

Cited by 39 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Additionally, optical diffusers are a key optical component in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which can spread the point light source uniformly without high intensity spots. In our group Zhou et al [ 7 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 ] designed optical diffusers with very high efficiency. Recently, an optical diffuser was prepared via a thiol ene click reaction comprising of 1:1 of ene and thiol and exhibited high transmission (98.49%) and high haze (91.77%).…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in The Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Composite and Its Applications

et al. 2020

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Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) have kindled a spark of interest because of their unique characteristic of electrically controlled switching. However, some issues including high operating voltage, low contrast ratio and poor mechanical properties are hindering their practical applications. To overcome these drawbacks, some measures were taken such as molecular structure optimization of the monomers and liquid crystals, modification of PDLC and doping of nanoparticles and dyes. This review aims at detailing the recent advances in the process, preparations and applications of PDLCs over the past six years.

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Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in The Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Composite and Its Applications

et al. 2020

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“…Tremendous efforts were progressed previously on optimization of PDLC materials and structure of devices to fabricate low voltage PDLCs with enhanced electro-optical properties and were sufficiently impressive [20,21,[36][37][38][39][40][41]. Despite promising results, attempts at constructing low-voltage driven PDLCs have involved either cumbersome fabrication procedures or compromised on other salient features of PDLCs [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. There is therefore high interest in developing an efficient method to reduce the driving voltage of PDLCs without sacrificing other desirable features.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Performance Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Enabled by Uniquely Designed Acrylate Monomer

et al. 2020

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The widespread electro–optical applications of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are hampered by their high-driving voltage. Attempts to fabricate PDLC devices with low driving voltage sacrifice other desirable features of PDLCs. There is thus a clear need to develop a method to reduce the driving voltage without diminishing other revolutionary features of PDLCs. Herein, we report a low-voltage driven PDLC system achieved through an elegantly simple and uniquely designed acrylate monomer (A3DA) featuring a benzene moiety with a dodecyl terminal chain. The PDLC films were fabricated by the photopolymerization of mono- and di-functional acrylate monomers (19.2 wt%) mixed in a nematic liquid crystal E7 (80 wt%). The PDLC film with A3DA exhibited an abrupt decline of driving voltage by 75% (0.55 V/μm) with a high contrast ratio (16.82) while maintaining other electro–optical properties almost the same as the reference cell. The response time was adjusted to satisfactory by tuning the monomer concentration while maintaining the voltage significantly low (3 ms for a voltage of 0.98 V/μm). Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the polyhedral foam texture morphology with an average mesh size of approximately 2.6 μm, which is less in comparison with the mesh size of reference PDLC (3.4 μm), yet the A3DA-PDLC showed low switching voltage. Thus, the promoted electro–optical properties are believed to be originated from the unique polymer networks formed by A3DA and its weak anchoring behavior on LCs. The present system with such a huge reduction in driving voltage and enhanced electro–optical performance opens up an excellent way for abundant perspective applications of PDLCs.

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“…These smart windows are becoming popular especially in commercial office spaces, because they exhibit an aesthetic look, incorporate different designs and colorful dyes, and allow light to pass through them, which results in saving energy. Besides these, PDLCs have applications in holographic grating, 8 light diffusion, 9,10 display devices, 11 and electrochromic devices. 12 When a voltage is applied to a PDLC, the LC domains align themselves in a parallel direction along the applied eld, which leads to an ON state (transparent), and zero voltage causes the OFF state (opaque).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acrylate-assisted fractal nanostructured polymer dispersed liquid crystal droplet based vibrant colored smart-windows

Kumar

Hong

et al. 2019

RSC Adv.

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A novel light diffuser based on the combined morphology of polymer networks and polymer balls in a polymer dispersed liquid crystals film

Abstract: A novel light diffuser based on a thermally cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal film was made by thermally curing epoxy monomers with thiols and polyamine in a solution of monomers and liquid crystals between two transparent polyethylene terephthalates.

Cited by 39 publications

References 30 publications

Recent Advances in The Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Composite and Its Applications

Recent Advances in The Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Composite and Its Applications

High-Performance Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Enabled by Uniquely Designed Acrylate Monomer

Acrylate-assisted fractal nanostructured polymer dispersed liquid crystal droplet based vibrant colored smart-windows

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