Improved Kerr constant and response time of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal with a reactive diluent

Abstract

A polymer-stabilized (PS) blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) with fast response time and large Kerr constant is investigated by doping a low molecular weight monomer (N-vinylpyrrollidone) into a conventional PS-BPLC consisting of BPLC, RM257, and 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate. With this polymer network system, Kerr constant and the response can be improved simultaneously. Compared to the conventional PS-BPLC, Kerr constant of the proposed PS-BPLC can increase by 54% and the response time can decrease by 23% at the same time. The contrast ratio can be kept at a high level, over 1000:1 at λ = 633 nm.