The Effect of Weak Polymer Stabilization on the Switching Properties of Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

We examine the differences in electro-optical behavior of weakly polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC) when formed using either a flood lit UV lamp, a flood lit UV laser, or a holographically patterned UV laser. Both samples formed with the UV laser exhibit symmetry in their dynamic electro-optical properties relative to the front and rear surface of the polymerized cell. These cells exhibit a reversible ∼100 nm blue shift tuning of the notch upon application of a field when the reflectivity is measured from either side. The UV lamp sample exhibits large differences in behavior when examined from the front or back relative to the direction of the polymerizing source. The front surface exhibits tuning of the notch while measurements from the back surface yield only the typical binary switching behavior of a CLC. The overall switching fields in flood lit UV laser and UV laser holographically patterned samples are also considerably lower. These differences are explained due to the presence of a strong polymer gradient across the cell gap in the UV lamp flood lit samples which is not present for the UV laser stabilized samples. We also present novel electro-optical results when these laser cured cells are examined in transmittance mode. Strong anchoring at the two surfaces causes a strong anisotropic local LC structure across the cell gap when a field is applied. The two local environments next to each surface act to strongly pin the CLC structure whereas within the bulk, ample reorientation of the LC molecules occurs. When probed in transmission, unusual fringe patterns which change with the strength of the applied field are observed.