Helical unwinding in polymer-dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystals

We demonstrate that ferroelectric liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer matrix can form uniaxially aligned elliptical droplets. The alignment is controlled by mechanical shear during the polymerization of a UV-curable adhesive. The possibility of prealignment makes polymer-dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystals suitable for application in flexible electro-optical displays. In contrast to surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal displays, the electro-optical effect in our system is due to the deformed-helix ferroelectric (DHF) effect.     

Surface modification of epoxy‐functionalized acrylate colloids

A synthetic route towards surface modified, monodisperse, spherical particles is presented. The precursor particles exhibit epoxy‐functionalities which can be opened afterwards with an appropriate nucleophile. Via this route, dye labeled particles are obtained. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical storage effect in a platinum orthometalated liquid crystal

Received: 24 June 1997     

Azimuthal anchoring of liquid crystals at the surface of photo-induced anisotropic films

Received: 13 November 1996/Accepted: 22 January 1997     

Three‐dimensional structure in holographic polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals

Polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals, heterogeneous structures consisting of a liquid crystal and a polymer, are promising materials for generating holograms with switchable diffraction efficiency. The experiments presented here reveal that the generation of a face‐centered cubic structure can be achieved by exposing a liquid crystal/reactive monomer mixture to the interference pattern of four coherent laser beams under appropriate geometrical conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polarized electroluminescence of a discotic mesogenic compound

Polarized electroluminescence is observed for a uniaxially aligned sample of a discotic compound in its crystalline state. The alignment was achieved by coating the ITO anode with an aligned film of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) deposited using the friction method. Organic light emitting devices with the layer sequence glass/ITO/PTFE/tetraethyl perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylate (55 nm)/aluminium (100 nm) show linearly polarized emission of light with a dichroic ratio up to 3.2.     

Storage of laser-induced holographic gratings in discotic liquid crystals

We demonstrate that low molar mass discotic liquid crystals can be used for holographic storage. Grating structures are optically induced and stored in the glassy state of the investigated liquid crystal. The material is suitable for multiple storage processes since the stored information can be erased by heating the sample above the glass transition temperature.