Liquid crystal devices are possible because of their large optical birefringence and dielectric anisotropy. They have become a part of modern life with the ubiquitous liquid crystal displays dominating the display industry. However, the need to enhance their physical properties is ever increasing and our research tried to provide as much information as possible to fill this void.
In our recent studies, we showed by integrating non-liquid crystalline materials such as specialty particles or well-engineered polymers into a specific liquid crystal host, we could enhance the physical properties of the liquid crystal displays and devices. At the same time, it’s possible to change how we perceive and use various types liquid crystals and related devices. In the dissertation, first, we present our work focusing on producing enhanced LC-polymer composites where we integrated custom-made polymer materials into unmodified 5CB to produce fast switching, high transparent LC-polymer composites.
We developed high transmittance stressed liquid crystals (HTSLC) optimized for their ultra fast operation in the visible and NIR spectral range. The transmittance that is corrected for front and back surface reflections, of the device is more than 95% at 600nm and 99% in the near IR spectral range. The HTSLC produce large phase shifts. For example, an 18-micron thick HTSLC device can produce more than 1-micron phase shift in 1milli second. HTSLC devices have many potential optical applications for display, adaptable lenses and related electro-optic devices.
In the dissertation, as second part, we present our work focusing on enhancing the physical properties of liquid crystals by integrating ferroelectric nano-particles into 5CB, where we achieve minimum of 2deg C and maximum of 4deg C increase in the clearing point of unmodified single component liquid crystal. In addition, we also present how to enhance the dielectric anisotropy and order parameter of the LC and present the results demonstrating it.
Throughout our research, we also present how to produce the particle suspensions or LC-polymer composites or LC-polymer composites and related devices followed by presenting their characteristics and immediate possible applications.