Alignment Layer Research Articles

A Comprehensive Investigation into the Mechanisms Dictating the Movement of Liquid Crystal Polymer Flakes in Liquid Crystal Hosts.

Integrating microscale liquid crystal polymer flakes into host materials takes advantage of their compact shape and heightened responsiveness to electric fields, facilitating a range of switching capabilities and related applications, such as smart windows and E-paper displays. However, the complex physics controlling the movement of these flakes within liquid crystal hosts remains partly mysterious. This paper aims to elucidate the underlying physics that governs the behavior of nematic liquid crystal polymer flakes within nematic liquid crystal hosts. The uniaxial flakes are introduced into nematic liquid crystal hosts, which have positive or negative dielectric anisotropies. They are then arranged in devices with various alignment layers: parallel, perpendicular, or twisted. We compare and analyze the rotation and relaxation times of these flakes, observing their behaviors at specific moments to identify the factors influencing their motions. Our research pinpoints three primary factors that impact the movement of these flakes: anchoring, elastic, and interfacial polarization effects. Moreover, elastic and anchoring effects play more prominent roles and contribute earlier than the interface polarization effect in the liquid crystalline hosts upon the application of electric fields; flakes can relax back to their initial state with the help of the anchoring effect. This comprehensive understanding not only contributes to the fundamental study of flake dynamics but also paves the way for enhanced performance and broader practical applications, particularly in photoelectric fields, such as fast-switching smart windows.

Alignment of polarization volume gratings using semi-circular arc patterns via nanofabrication technology

Polarization volume gratings have the potential for future applications such as AR due to their high single-order diffraction efficiency and large angular and wavelength response range. However, the preparation method of photo alignment, which is currently employed, presents challenges to the application of PVGs due to issues of poor uniformity and difficulty in preparing large sizes. To promote the application, a scheme for fabricating the alignment layer of PVGs by nanofabrication technology is proposed. The alignment structure, where the basic unit is a semicircular arc, was designed. We prepared the structure using EBL and spin-coated a layer of chiral liquid crystals (CLC) on top of it. The dispersion effect in white light indicates that the designed alignment structure imparts lateral periodicity to the CLC. The device could efficiently reflect specific right-polarized light and efficiently transmit specific left-polarized light. Therefore, the diffraction performance of the device can be considered to be consistent with the photo-alignment PVGs within the error allowance. This work provides what we believe to be a novel scheme for the alignment of PVGs, creating a new platform for mass production and multifunctional integrated design of PVGs.

Nematic host and alignment layer dependence on monodomain formation in the liquid crystal blue phase

Blue phases (BPs) of liquid crystals are highly valued in electro-optics for their fast, polarization-independent response and the advantage of not requiring alignment layers. While BP lattices do not need to be aligned to substrates, doing so can improve their electro-optic performance. Traditionally, rubbed polyimide films have been the preferred method for inducing monodomains in BPs. This study, using polarized optical microscopy, explores various BP compositions with different nematic hosts, chiral dopant concentrations, and alignment layer combinations, including polyimide, surfactants, and obliquely evaporated SiOx. The results show that while rubbed polyimide is effective for many BP compositions, it is not always the optimal choice for inducing monodomains. The research highlights that inorganic alignment methods can be more effective for BP compositions consisting of specific nematic hosts.

Preparation and Characterization of Waste Cotton Fabric Reinforced Polylactic Acid Green Composites with Multifunctional Properties in a Low-Carbon Process

The development and design of eco-friendly materials prove crucial for promoting the recycling of waste cotton textiles and reducing environmental pollution. In this study, waste cotton fabric (WCF) and polylactic acid (PLA) serve to produce cotton fabric-reinforced PLA composite material (CF/P). The CF/P is then integrated with traditional porous sound-absorbing materials to create a novel composite plate. This research highlights the potential of WCF reinforced plates for sound absorption and thermal insulation applications in the construction field of construction and reports the effects of variables such as hot pressing temperature, WCF mass fraction, and WCF layer alignment angle on the material properties. The optimum tensile strength, water absorption, and thermal conductivity of the prepared CF/P are 64.2 ± 1.8MPa, 1.98% ± 0.04%, and 0.03W/(m·K), respectively. By combining with porous sound-absorbing materials and modifying the layering structure of composite plates, its acoustic performance can be adjusted. The highest Sound Absorption Average (SAA) of plates with a multilayer composite structure is 0.67. Direct shaping through hot pressing diminishes the use of adhesives, thereby reducing costs and health hazards. This approach offers a practical and efficient solution for the recycling and repurposing of natural fibers.

Plywood Proficiency: Navigating Quality Assurance in Manufacturing

Proficiency testing (PT) plays a vital role in the plywood manufacturing industry, acting as a quality assurance tool to maintain high standards in product consistency and reliability. This study evaluates the effectiveness of PT in identifying and addressing quality issues within plywood production, focusing on three main objectives: assessing PT’s role in uncovering quality problems, analyzing root causes, and proposing targeted solutions for process improvement. The research involved eight laboratories evaluating the Modulus of Rupture (MoR) and Modulus of Elasticity (MoE) of plywood samples, with results statistically analyzed to measure inter-laboratory consistency and identify performance gaps. To ensure reliable testing, the PT samples were prepared in line with IS 303:1989 standards, emphasizing homogeneity and stability. Statistical analyses revealed variability among laboratories, highlighting areas for improvement in material handling and testing protocols. The study found that PT is instrumental for the industry, not only in identifying discrepancies but also in fostering a culture of continuous quality enhancement. Recommendations for improvement include refining the adhesive application, optimizing pressing parameters, ensuring accurate layer alignment, and implementing thorough end-of-line inspections. Quality control measures such as random sampling, supplier audits, and traceability systems are also recommended to maintain consistency. The study advocates for comprehensive employee training and cross-functional collaboration across production, quality assurance, and R&D teams to enhance overall product quality. By addressing critical process variables and leveraging PT as a benchmarking tool, plywood manufacturers can meet regulatory standards and customer expectations. This research underscores the importance of PT in delivering actionable insights for improving product quality and reliability, ultimately supporting the industry’s growth and commitment to safe, high-quality plywood products.

Carbon dots induced homeotropic alignment in a negative dielectric nematic liquid crystal material

Abstract Recently, doping guest materials such as quantum dots (QDs) into liquid crystals (LCs) has been of great interest since their addition substantially enhances the properties of LC and opens new avenues for scientific advancement. Here, we report the induction of homeotropic alignment in cells without alignment layers of the negative dielectric nematic liquid crystal, N-(4-Methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) by doping with carbon dots (CDs ∼2.8 ± 0.72 nm). The CDs-MBBA composites (CDs concentration: 0.002, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 wt%) were investigated using optical polarising microscopy, electro-optical and dielectric techniques. Polarizing optical micrographs and voltage dependent optical transmission revealed the induced homeotropic alignment for all the composites under investigation. Interestingly, the least concentrated sample, 0.002 wt% exhibited partial homeotropic alignment. However, due to light leakage, the optical transmission value below threshold voltage was relatively higher than the rest of the composites. MBBA is a negative dielectric material, hence the application of a voltage across the cell was able to switch the alignment from a dark to a bright state for all composites. However, above a certain voltage (>threshold voltage), the bright state produced some instabilities. The value of dielectric permittivity was observed to decrease with increasing concentration, confirming the effect of CDs in producing homeotropic alignment in MBBA. Measurements as a function of temperature were conducted to examine the thermal stability of the induced alignment. The alignment was found to be stable throughout the nematic phase of MBBA. The induction of such alignment without conventional alignment (i.e., rubbing of polyimides) technique can be helpful in addressing the evolving display demands by making liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and other display devices cost effective.

Complex Reflectivity Modulation Characteristics at Visible Wavelength Using Liquid Crystal on a Metasurface Device

Active metasurface device capable of complex modulation in the visible light range is demonstrated. To realize complex modulation, a liquid crystal (LC) of twisted nematic mode on a plasmonic antenna metasurface, where resonance wavelength is sensitive to its geometry and nearby optical environment, is integrated. For the LC process on the metasurface, the alignment characteristics of the material exposed to the LC on the metasurface are first identified and the polyimide alignment layer is omitted. The LC works in twisted nematic mode to enhance complex modulation characteristics. The complex reflectivity coefficient is measured while varying the voltage applied to both the antenna and metal electrode in the visible light region. Complex reflectivity into a doughnut shape with a small voltage variation of 3.1 V on the antenna electrode and 2.5 V on the metal electrode is successfully modulated. The largest complex modulation is achieved at a wavelength of 660 nm, with phase and reflectivity amplitude modulations of 0–2π radian in a doughnut shape and 0.3 and 0.6, respectively. So far true holographic experience is limited by high‐order overlapping and twin images. Through this approach, a technical method is suggested for overcoming such obstacles and accomplishing advanced holographic display.

Flexible speckle-free polymer-stabilized liquid crystal screen for laser projection

Despite considerable effort and progress, accomplishing speckle-free laser displays remain challenging, particularly in flexible displays. In this paper, we propose a novel and easy-to-implement method for developing a flexible polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) screen. A uniformly alignment layer was achieved on polyethylene terephthalate substrates using a low-temperature curing system, and polystyrene (PS) microspheres are spin-coated to enhance the mechanical stability. The dynamic scattering of the PSLC effectively reduces laser speckle, leading to improved image clarity. When applied to a laser projection system, the developed flexible PSLC screen exhibits good image quality, low light-intensity loss, and a speckle suppression efficiency of 77.9%. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent optical performance, mechanical stability, and size adaptability, which are suitable for applications in flexible, transparent, and augmented/virtual reality displays; and other optical imaging scenarios.

Scattering-Free and Fast Response Polymer Brush-Stabilized Liquid Crystals Beam Steering Using Surface-Initiated Polymerization Technique.

Nonmechanical fast response optical beam steering technology is increasingly essential for telecommunications, imaging systems, optical sensing, displays, and military applications. Polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) beam steering can achieve submillisecond response times but faces limitations due to scattering issues arising from the refractive index mismatch between the polymer network and the liquid crystals (LCs). In this article, we demonstrate a scattering-free, fast-response LC beam steering by using polymer brushes to stabilize the gradient refractive index. First, the initiator is incorporated into the alignment layer and the monomer is mixed into the LC layer. Surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) is then employed to grow the polymer brushes exclusively on the substrate's surface, thus confining the polymer network's growth to the LC bulk and reducing interfacial scattering. For polymer brush stabilized liquid crystal (PBSLC) beam steering device with a period size of 225 μm and a cell gap of 7.2 μm, the average transmission rate reaches 88% in the visible light spectrum with a haze value of only 6.91. The steering angle is 0.16, and the diffraction efficiency is 80.3%. When a voltage of 35 Vrms is applied, the primary energy can be tuned to the zeroth order, with a response time close to 1 ms. By cascading two PBSLC beam steering devices with opposite steering directions, the primary energy of the beam can be adjusted between zeroth, +1, and -1 order. This method requires only a UV light source, a precision displacement stage, a power supply, and a mask, avoiding the need for expensive equipment and complex electrode fabrication. By adjustment of the phase change period, step width, and number of steps during fabrication, the steering angles and diffraction efficiency of the PBSLC beam steering device can be easily controlled, highlighting its significant potential for industrial production.

Interpretation of dielectric spectroscopy measurements of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals

The magnitude of the relative permittivity of the ferroelectric nematic phase (NF) has been the subject of lively scientific discussion since the phase was recently discovered. Dielectric spectroscopy measurements (DSMs) give a huge value of relative permittivity, which depends on the cell thickness, but this is argued to result from a misinterpretation of the DSM results. We have conducted DSM using a set of cells differing in thickness of the NF layer, type of electrodes, and presence/absence of nanoscale-thick surface polymer layers. To model the DSM results, cells are presented by an equivalent electric circuit that includes a capacitor due to the NF layer with frequency dependent complex relative permittivity, capacitors due to surface layers, and a resistor describing the limited conductivity of electrodes. DSM results for different cells with the same liquid crystal in the NF phase are semiquantitatively reproduced by the same set of physical parameters if a huge relative permittivity of the NF, which is even orders of magnitude larger than the measured apparent values, is assumed. We show that the capacitance of surface layers should also be considered in cells with no polymer alignment layer on the electrodes. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Effect of surface alignment on electric-field-induced phase transitions in blue phases

This study investigates the critical electric field thresholds required for phase transitions in the blue phases of liquid crystals (BPs) confined within vertical field switching cells. BPs are attractive for electro-optical applications due to their polarization-independent response and fast switching times; however; challenges remain regarding their limited temperature stability and previously reported high operational voltages. We employ a combined approach of polarized optical microscopy and electrical impedance analysis to identify the electric field thresholds triggering BP transitions to focal conic domains in cells with and without planar polyimide alignment layers. We show that surface alignment layers stabilize the blue phases and allow for higher applied electric fields before transitioning into the focal conic state. This suggests the possibility of a wider operational voltage range in thinner cells with alignment layers. These findings significantly improve our understanding of BPs, addressing key challenges and paving the way for their integration into advanced photonic devices, based on the CMOS technology.

Temporal Changes in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Bruch's Membrane Complex Thickness After Autologous Retinal Transplantation in Myopic Eyes.

To investigate the association between the thickness of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-Bruch's membrane (BM) complex and the development of retinal autograft edema as a postoperative complication following autologous retinal transplantation (ART). This retrospective study examined data from 28 eyes of 28 patients (14 males, 14 females; mean age, 61.5 ± 19.8 years) who underwent ART and were followed for 1 year. The RPE-BM complex thickness was measured 2000 µm from the fovea using Image J software. Additionally, the graft blood flow was also evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography and fluorescein angiography. Macular hole (MH) diameters ranged from 711.2 ± 251.9 µm to 1299.9 ± 333.0 µm, with MH closure achieved in all patients. RPE-BM complex thickness decreased by 4.17 µm at 6 months and 4.34 µm at 1 year, showing significant differences from preoperative measurements (29.88 ± 4.99 µm; 6 months: 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-6.71, P = 0.0018; 1 year: 95% CI, 2.03-6.65 µm, P = 0.00044). The decrease was significantly greater in the edema-positive group (95% CI, -8.33 to -0.82, P = 0.020). Furthermore, the rates of ellipsoid zone (EZ) recovery, alignment of neurosensory layers (ANL), and graft reperfusion were lower in the edema-positive group (EZ, P = 0.017; ANL, P = 0.0098; reperfusion, P = 0.039). After ART, RPE-BM complex thickness decreases, particularly in cases with postoperative edema, suggesting a potential relationship between RPE function and postoperative outcomes, highlighting the importance of monitoring RPE-BM complex thickness after surgery.

Fractional Talbot Lithography for Predesigned Large-Area Liquid-Crystal Alignment

To address the increasing demands for cost-effective, large-area, and precisely patterned alignment of liquid crystals, a fractional Talbot lithography alignment technique was proposed. A light intensity distribution with a double spatial frequency of a photomask could be achieved based on the fractional Talbot effect, which not only enhanced the resolution of lithography but also slashed system costs with remarkable efficiency. To verify the feasibility of the alignment method, we prepared a one-dimensional polymer grating as an alignment layer. A uniform alignment over a large area was achieved thanks to the perfect periodicity and groove depth of several hundred nanometers. The anchoring energy of the alignment layer was 1.82 × 10−4 J/m2, measured using the twist balance method, which surpassed that of conventional rubbing alignment. Furthermore, to demonstrate its ability for non-uniform alignment, we prepared polymer concentric rings as an alignment layer, resulting in a liquid-crystal q-plate with q = 1 and α0 = π/2. This device, with a wide tuning range (phase retardation of ~6π @ 633 nm for 0 to 5 V), was used to generate special optical fields. The results demonstrate that this approach allows for the uniform large-area orientation of liquid-crystal molecules with superior anchoring energy and customizable patterned alignment, which has extensive application value in liquid-crystal displays, generating special optical fields and intricate liquid-crystal topological defects over a large area.

Performance analysis and optimization of SnSe thin-film solar cell with Cu2O HTL through a combination of SCAPS-1D and machine learning approaches

Tin selenide (SnSe) is an auspicious light-harvesting material in photovoltaic (PV) technology due to its larger absorption coefficients and earth-abundance nature. However, because of the potential difficulty of defect-free fabrication, and non-optimized electron transport layer (ETL) and hole transport layer (HTL) alignment, it could no longer achieve its realistic objectives. Therefore, designing a suitable SnSe-based PV device with an appropriate ETL and HTL is crucial to achieving optimum performance. In this research, we proposed a novel heterojunction thin-film solar cell (TFSC) configuration of Ni/Cu2O/SnSe/WS2/FTO/Al and simulated its PV performance metrics using SCAPS-1D solar cell simulation software. This research additionally provided a comparative performance analysis of the SnSe TFSC with numerous ETLs and HTLs. It is evident that the suggested TFSC with WS2 ETL and Cu2O HTL creates appropriate band alignment with the SnSe light harvesting layer, which reduces charge recombination at both the ETL/absorber and absorber/HTL interfaces. Here, the impact of absorber layer thickness, doping concentration, bulk defect density, and defect density at the ETL/absorber and absorber/HTL interfaces is investigated. Besides, the impact of radiative recombination, back contact metal work function, and working temperature are carefully examined. After optimization of all the material properties, a maximum efficiency of 29.31 % with open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.89 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 38.23 mA/cm2, and fill-factor (FF) of 86.30 % were attained for the SnSe-based proposed structure. Furthermore, a supervised linear regression machine learning algorithm is employed to investigate how the behavior of the material attributes affects the solar cell's designed PV performance. Overall, our findings can be helpful to experimentalists to fabricate inexpensive, highly efficient, and Cd-free SnSe-based heterostructure solar cells in the near future.

Topologically frustrated structures in inkjet printed chiral nematic liquid crystal droplets - experiments and simulations.

Director field alignment in inkjet printed droplets of chiral nematic liquid crystalline materials is investigated using both experiments and numerical simulations. Experimental investigations are performed by depositing droplets of varying sizes and pitches on homeotropic alignment layers. The competition between the bulk behaviour of the chiral nematic liquid crystal and the boundary conditions imposed by the droplet surface leads to the formation of a range of possible internal director configurations. Numerical investigations are performed using a free energy minimisation approach, and the resultant simulated polarising optical microscope images are found to agree well with experimental observations.

Effect of doping with carbon dots on the alignment and dielectric properties of nematic liquid crystal 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl in ITO sample cells without conventional alignment layers for low-cost display applications

The melding of nanomaterials with liquid crystalline materials is at the frontier of scientific research due to the transformative impact of nanoparticles on the functionalities of host liquid crystal materials. Here, we report the effect of doping of carbon dots (CDs) in the nematic liquid crystal (NLC), 5CB (4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl) in indium tin oxide (ITO) sample cells without alignment layers (i.e., unaligned ITO (U-ITO) sample cells) using polarizing optical microscopy and dielectric spectroscopic techniques. Polarizing optical microscopy reveals largely dark optical textures under crossed polarizers confirming vertical alignment of Pure 5CB in U-ITO sample cells. However, defects present in the texture pose severe constraints on the use of induced vertical alignment in U-ITO sample cells for device applications. To improve the quality of vertical alignment, CDs of size 2.8 nm at concentrations of 0.03, 0.05 and 0.1 wt% are doped into 5CB. Optical texture studies show the quality of induced vertical alignment of the 0.03 wt% composite is better than pure 5CB and other composites. Frequency-temperature dependent dielectric studies verify the induced vertical alignment by observation of the short-axis molecular relaxation. The stability of the vertical alignment throughout the nematic phase of 5CB is confirmed through temperature dependent dielectric and optical texture studies. The induced vertical alignment of 5CB in U-ITO sample cells could be attributed to the stronger LC-LC interaction than the ITO-LC interaction. The improvement in the quality of vertical alignment of CDs-5CB composites could be due to the CDs influencing LC-LC and ITO-LC interactions. Finally, the effect of CDs on the increasing dc electrical conductivity of 5CB in U-ITO sample cells is investigated. Our results clearly indicate that CD-5CB composites would be useful in cost-effective display and other photonic devices devoid of alignment layers.

Mesoporous chochleate particles doped liquid crystal as normally transparent smart window

A composite layer of homogeneously aligned liquid crystal (LC) doped with nano or mesoporous microparticles (NMPs) has been shown to act as normally opaque smart window (SW) in what is called NMP-LC mode. The porosity of the particle plays two important roles: (i) When the LC infiltrates the particle, it brings its refractive index to be closer to that of its LC surrounding at a certain orientation of the LC molecules and creates a large index mismatch at the orthogonal orientation; (ii) the LC infiltration brings the porous particle density to be closer to the surrounding LC, thus preventing precipitation and floating. Here we demonstrate that LC doped with cochleate cigar-shaped hollow particles and using DMOAP as an alignment layer acts as a normally transparent smart window. Under voltage, the best scenario that explains the polarization-independent scattering is to have the cochleate particles inclined at an angle to balance the dielectric with the elastic forces effectively. The emergence of the scattering mode results from the symbiotic interplay of two distinct phenomena – the NMP effect and the electro-hydrodynamic instability effect. The synergy between these two effects manifests in lower operating voltage and frequency requirements for the device, hence less energy consumption. The scattering increases between 30 °C and 50 °C, thus it acts as a self-adjustable window giving more shade as the outside temperature rises. The threshold voltage is found to decrease with temperature. The SW exhibits high transparency in the OFF state, and high haze in the ON state, and the durability test shows that the SW switches for at least 6 days without degradation of optical contrast.

Designable exciton mixing through layer alignment in WS2-graphene heterostructures

Optical properties of heterostructures composed of layered 2D materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and graphene, are broadly explored. Of particular interest are light-induced energy transfer mechanisms in these materials and their structural roots. Here, we use state-of-the-art first-principles calculations to study the excitonic composition and the absorption properties of WS2–graphene heterostructures as a function of interlayer alignment and the local strain resulting from it. We find that Brillouin zone mismatch and the associated energy level alignment between the graphene Dirac cone and the TMD bands dictate an interplay between interlayer and intralayer excitons, mixing together in the many-body representation upon the strain-induced symmetry breaking in the interacting layers. Examining the representative cases of the 0° and 30° interlayer twist angles, we find that this exciton mixing strongly varies as a function of the relative alignment. We quantify the effect of these structural modifications on exciton charge separation between the layers and the associated graphene-induced homogeneous broadening of the absorption resonances. Our findings provide guidelines for controllable optical excitations upon interface design and shed light on the importance of many-body effects in the understanding of optical phenomena in complex heterostructures.

Robust and Efficient Out-of-Plane Exciton Transport in Two-Dimensional Perovskites via Ultrafast Förster Energy Transfer.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites, comprising inorganic semiconductor layers separated by organic spacers, hold promise for light harvesting and optoelectronic applications. Exciton transport in these materials is pivotal for device performance, often necessitating deliberate alignment of the inorganic layers with respect to the contacting layers to facilitate exciton transport. While much attention has focused on in-plane exciton transport, little has been paid to out-of-plane interlayer transport, which presumably is sluggish and unfavorable. Herein, by time-resolved photoluminescence, we unveil surprisingly efficient out-of-plane exciton transport in 2D perovskites, with diffusion coefficients (up to ∼0.1 cm2 s-1) and lengths (∼100 nm) merely a few times smaller or comparable to their in-plane counterparts. We unambiguously confirm that the out-of-plane exciton diffusion coefficient corresponds to a subpicosecond interlayer exciton transfer, governed by the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism. Intriguingly, in contrast to temperature-sensitive intralayer band-like transport, the interlayer exciton transport exhibits negligible temperature dependence, implying a lowest-lying bright exciton state in 2D perovskites, irrespective of spacer molecules. The robust and ultrafast interlayer exciton transport alleviates the constraints on crystal orientation that are crucial for the design of 2D perovskite-based light harvesting and optoelectronic devices.

Reverse-Mode Polymer-Stabilized Liquid Crystal Films with Enhanced Peel Strength and Electro-Optical Performance Based on Photoreactive Self-Assembly Alignment Layers and Patterned Polymer Walls.

Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) is a promising material toward the practical application of serving as energy-saving reverse-mode smart windows owing to its superior electro-optical (E-O) properties, simple and efficient processability, and compatibility to most practical circumstances. However, its feeble peel strength originated from low polymer content and poor adhesion between polymer networks and substrates inhibited its large-scale flexible film production. It is still a challenging task to derive good mechanical properties and superior E-O performance for PSLCs at the same time. In this study, a highly durable liquid crystal/polymer composite film showing enhanced peel strength and excellent E-O properties was attained by simultaneously building photoreactive self-assemble alignment layers through an efficient one-step method and the sculpture of a patterned polymer wall structure. This film has comprehensive ascendant E-O properties of lower driving voltages, faster response times, and higher contrast ratio, together with an over 30 times lift of the peel strength. The effectuation mechanisms of the alignment, E-O properties, peel-strength, microstructures, and cyclic durability of the films have been systematically studied. This novel liquid crystal/polymer composite film demonstrates advantages in every aspect of performance compared to traditional PSLC devices, which hoards promising applications in smart windows for cars and buildings.