Preparation of cholesteric polymer networks with broadband reflection memory effect

ABSTRACT

In this study, polymer network is prepared by broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film with washing out method. By the method of photoinduced molecular diffusion, the CLC film is prepared by adding different concentrations of ultraviolet (UV) absorption dyes into the LC system and irradiated with a series of UV light intensities for different times. The selective reflection property and broadband reflection memory effect of the polymer network are proved, and the response mechanism is given. By refilling the polymer network with different LCs, reflective bands with different central wavelengths and bandwidths can be obtained. It is confirmed that different fillers can recurrence the initial reflection bandwidth of CLCs in different degrees. These results may provide a new idea for total reflection CLC films.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Cholesteric liquid crystal
• photoinduced molecular diffusion
• broadband reflection
• polymer network
• memory effect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Nos. 52073027, 51973017], Science and Technology Planning Project of 2020 Beijing Education Commission [KM202010015006].