High-contrast electrically switchable light-emitting liquid crystal displays based on α-cyanostilbenic derivative

ABSTRACT

Light-emitting liquid crystal displays (LE-LCDs), serving as emissive displays, are considered as promising alternatives to conventional LCDs because of their superior power efficiency. A dichroic fluorescent dye (Z)-2-(4-aminophenyl)-3-(4-(fluorophenyl)acrylonitrile (CN-AFAN) is synthesised, which exhibits strong fluorescence in the solution and solid states. Moreover, an electrically switchable optical switch based on CN-AFAN and a cholesteric liquid crystal is demonstrated, which combines the internal scattering of excitation light and the dichroism of CN-AFAN to improve fluorescence contrast. The photoluminescence and transmittance of the optical switch is modulated by an electric field between the planar state, focal conic state, and homeotropic state. The resultant device is cost-effective and easy to fabricate, thereby demonstrating immense potential for security and display applications.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Photoluminescence intensity
• high fluorescence contrast
• electrically switchable
• liquid crystal displays

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Additional information

Funding

This work was mainly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant Numbers 61107014 and 51573036] and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University [Grant Number NCET-12-0839] for the financial support.