Enhanced ordering in polymer stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal guest–host composites: evidence by polarised fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract

Guest–host polymer stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal (PSFLC) composite films have been prepared by polymerisation-induced phase separation process. A small quantity (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 wt %) of anthraquinone dye in PSFLC host matrix was homogeneously dispersed to create molecular ordering in fibrils network of guest–host composite film. Ordered twisted fibril morphology was clearly observed through optical polarising microscope and thus we determined the order parameter from the dichroism measurements with the help of polarised fluorescence spectroscopy, which impacts the significant contribution of dye molecules into the smectic layers of the host polymer stabilised ferroelectric matrix.

Keywords:

• polymer stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal (PSFLC)
• polymerisation-induced phase separation (PIPS)
• order parameter
• fibre alignment
• polarised fluorescence spectroscopy

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank M/s Norland, NJ, for providing the polymer and E. Merck, UK, for providing liquid crystal materials. Valuable comments for the review are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

One of the authors (RK) acknowledges University Grant Commission (UGC) for the financial support.