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Polymer Network–Stabilized Liquid Crystals
Author(s) -
Dierking I.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-4095(200002)12:3<167::aid-adma167>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - materials science , polymerization , liquid crystal , polymer , polymer network , monomer , ferroelectricity , fabrication , bifunctional , chemical engineering , curing (chemistry) , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , medicine , catalysis , alternative medicine , chemistry , pathology , dielectric , engineering
The fabrication and properties of polymer network–stabilized liquid crystals, formed by polymerization of a small amount of a bifunctional photoreactive monomer dissolved in a liquid‐crystalline phase, are reviewed. The polymer network morphology is strongly related to preparation conditions such as monomer content, polymerization temperature, and ultraviolet (UV) curing conditions. The transfer of anisotropic liquid‐crystalline order onto the network is discussed in detail. The electro‐optical performance of network‐stabilized nematics, cholesterics, and ferroelectric smectics is largely dependent on the morphology of the network, as will be demonstrated with an emphasis laid on polymer‐stabilized cholesteric textures (PSCTs). A general correlation between polymerization conditions, network morphology, and electro‐optical behavior will be outlined and aspects concerning applications discussed.