Droplet-size distribution gradient induced by laser curing in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

We have studied the morphology and electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals prepared by polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) under high intensity UV laser curing. The results have shown that localized high intensity curing generates a gradient of the droplet size distribution outside the directly irradiated area as a consequence of the non-uniform spatial distribution of the scattered intensity. Such a distribution of the droplet size reflects in a peculiar electro-optical behaviour that could find potential application in optical devices. Both shape and spatial extent of the droplet size gradient are affected by the spatial velocity of polymerization which in turn strongly depends on the intensity of the curing laser beam. This dependence has also been experimentally investigated.