Polymer‐stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals with a double helical handedness: influence of an ultraviolet light absorber on the characteristics of the circularly polarised reflection band

Abstract

An ultraviolet light absorber was introduced in the composition of a polymer‐stabilised cholesteric liquid crystal (PSCLC) for which a thermally‐induced helicity inversion occurs. The PSCLC exhibits a strong structural discontinuity and two distinct reflection bands with inverse circular polarisations that correspond to polymer‐poor and polymer‐rich phases. The temperature can be tuned so that the material exhibits a single reflection band with the amount of reflected light close to 90% and both circular polarisations after an electric field has been applied.

*Present address: Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Ohio, USA.

Notes

*Present address: Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Ohio, USA.