A hybrid-aligned polymer network liquid crystal: optical and electro-optical properties |
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Authors: | P. Sixou C. Gautier |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Crystallography , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , 15260 , U.S.A.;2. Department of Chemistry , The University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee , 37996-1600 , U.S.A.;3. Syntax Research , 3401 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto , California , 94304 , U.S.A.;4. Department of Chemistry , The University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee , 37996-1600 , U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | We have studied the influence of polymer network liquid crystal alignment on optical and electro-optical properties. Composite alignment (parallel/homeotropic) was investigated in comparison with symmetric parallel/parallel and homeotropic/homeotropic alignments. The applied voltage leads to a reflective wavelength shift towards low wavelengths according to two modes in the case of symmetric planar alignment. Depending on polymerization conditions, a band broadening can be obtained, but a total reversibility of the optical properties is not recovered after application of a high voltage to the samples. The layer thickness appears to be a fundamental parameter in the case of a hybrid-aligned active layer and a wide band is obtained after measurements (I - V) using increasing voltages. |
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