Functional films using reactive mesogens for display applications

Abstract

Functional films made of reactive mesogens (RMs) are widely used in display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode displays (OLEDs). While functional RM films have been intensively developed for commercial application in the industrial sector, the fundamental studies on it in the academic sector are relatively limited. Here, functional RM films are reviewed in terms of their materials and fabrication processes as well as their applications in display devices. Also briefly reviewed is the recent research on them that may potentially be used in future display devices. This review was intended to provide an overall summary of RM applications in display devices and of the recent trends of the relevant studies to non-experts as well as experts in display applications.

Planar liquid crystal polarization optics for augmented reality and virtual reality: from fundamentals to applications

“…The LC material used in PAPH could be a fluidic LC or a reactive mesogen. The latter is basically a polymerizable LC with reactive end groups [56]. The chemical structure of a typical reactive mesogen RM257 is depicted in Fig.…”

Enhancement of Planar Orientation of Reactive Mesogen Molecules for Optical Retarder Film by Anisotropic Surface Plasma Treatment

“…Optical retarder films have been widely used in the display devices [1][2][3]. Commercial retarder films for display devices can be classified into the stretched film type [4][5][6] and the reactive mesogen (RM) type [7][8][9]. Stretched film type retarders were developed earlier than the RM type retarders and are mainly applied to compensate for the viewing angle of liquid crystal display (LCD) [4][5][6]10].…”

“…Various kinds of polymers, such as cyclo olefin polymer (COP), polycarbonate (PC), and triacetyl cellulose (TAC), have been developed for various kinds of LCD modes. The RM type retarders have recently drawn much attention for use with organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and flexible displays [7][8][9]11]. Because the thickness of RM type retarders is about one-tenth thinner than that of the stretched film type, RM type retarders are suitable for flexible display applications.…”

“…Meanwhile, the alignment of the RM molecules is essential, similar to the LCD fabrication process. The liquid crystal (LC) molecules are aligned by the upper and the lower substrates in the LCD, but the RM molecules in the retarder film can only be aligned by the lower substrate [7][8][9]15]. Consequently, it is difficult to fabricate a RM retarder film with a uniform orientation of the RM molecules without defects.…”

Polarized Light Emission from Uniaxially Oriented and Polymer-Stabilized AIE Luminogen Thin Films

“…Because RM has both LC anisotropy and polymerizability, the oriented polymer film can be easily fabricated by polymerization of the uniaxially oriented RM. , The chemical cross-linking of anisotropically oriented RM networks can significantly improve thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Because of these advantages, RM is often used for the fabrication of optical films …”