The role of nanomesh fibres loaded with fluorescent materials on the electro-optical performance of PDLC devices

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films were prepared from a mixture of prepolymer, liquid crystal and phosphor-loaded reticular nanofibres films by a polymerisation-induced phase separation (PIPS) process. By comparing the microstructure and electro-optical curves of samples with different ratios of monomer types and liquid crystal contents, it was demonstrated that the cavity size of the polymer network had a significant effect on the electro-optical properties of the PDLC films. Reticular nanofibres films loaded with different phosphor contents were introduced into the liquid crystal mixture samples and the changes in the polymer network, electro-optical and fluorescence properties of these samples were analysed using SEM images, electro-optical curves and fluorescence curves. The electro-optical and fluorescence properties as well as the fluorescence properties of reticulated nanofibres films doped with PDLCs loaded with fluorescent materials were found to be improved and the anti-ageing properties are also greatly increased. Therefore, the development of meshed nanofiber membrane-doped PDLC films with faster response time, better optoelectronic properties, and better fluorescence properties will greatly improve the applications of PDLC-based devices in smart windows, sensors, energy efficiency and Potential technical applications in flexible devices.