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A Single‐Step Dual Stabilization of Smart Window by the Formation of Liquid Crystal Physical Gels and the Construction of Liquid Crystal Chambers
Author(s) -
Yoon WonJin,
Choi YuJin,
Lim SeokIn,
Koo Jahyeon,
Yang Seungchul,
Jung Dayoung,
Kang ShinWoong,
Jeong KwangUn
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201906780
Subject(s) - materials science , liquid crystal , shutter , liquid crystal display , optoelectronics , smart material , duty cycle , electric field , monomer , fabrication , voltage , polymer , optics , nanotechnology , composite material , electrical engineering , engineering , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics
Smart windows are very attractive because they not only provide comfortable indoor conditions for cars and buildings, but also protect privacy. However, current smart windows have problems such as high energy consumption, slow response time, and poor stability. To solve these problems, a single‐step dual stabilization (SSDS) is newly proposed for the fabrication of robust liquid crystal (LC) smart windows switching fast at low voltage. Upon irradiating ultraviolet light on the selected area of the nematic (N) LC optical cell with photoisomerizable macrogelators (B3AZ) and photopolymerizable monomers, NLC physical gels (LCPGs) and partition walls are simultaneously constructed. LCPGs play a role of light shutter under a low electric field (9.6 V pp ) which is ten times lower than that of the conventional polymer‐stabilized LC‐based smart windows. Partition walls constructed by the selected area photopolymerization significantly enhance the mechanical stabilities. Based on the experimental results, it is realized that the NLC layer generated near the partition walls makes the LCPGs respond to a low voltage. Robust SSDS smart windows could open new doors for the development of high‐performance smart windows.