Particular thermally induced phase separation of liquid crystal and poly(N-vinyl carbazole) films and its application

Abstract

In the current study, a method of particular thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) of liquid crystals (LCs) and polymers is presented. The method involves a combination of dissolution process and TIPS. The LCs and poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) play the roles of solvent and solute, respectively, during the processes of particular TIPS. The nematic LC sample fabricated by two substrates coated with uniform PVK films is heated and then cooled, generating the rough PVK layers onto the surfaces of the substrates. The LC sample having rough PVK layers produces micron-sized, multiple domains of disordered LCs that can scatter incident light. Additionally, an application of a scattering mode light shutter, having the advantages of low driving voltage, polarization-independent scattering, fast response, high contrast ratio, and being polarizer free, is reported.