The regulation of electric-optical properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals via implantation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) microstructure

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we report a simple and effective technique to improve the electro-optical performance of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films via the implantation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) microstructure into the polymer matrix. The measurement results of the electro-optical properties indicated that the electro-optical performances of PDLC films have been regulated successfully via the implantation of POSS microstructure into the polymer matrix. SEM results suggested that the size of polymer meshes was broadened with the increase in the content of POSS microstructure, while the static water contact angles of the polymers increased after the implantation of POSS microstructure. Because of the lower surface energy as well as the increased steric repulsions between liquid crystal molecules and polymer surfaces, the anchoring effect of the polymer matrix containing POSS microstructure was concluded to be weakened, which was the dominant factor in achieving the dramatic regulation effect of the electro-optical properties of the PDLC films. This work could provide a creative approach for the fabrication of low voltage-driven PDLC films for their practical applications.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystals
• electro-optical properties
• polymer-dispersed liquid crystal
• polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)

Acknowledgements

Zemin He and Ping Yu contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China (Program No. 2021JQ-877, No. 2021GY-205, No. 2021JM-536, No. 2021JM-531 and No. 2021JM-534), Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (Program No. 20JK0959 and No. 20JK0968), the Special Fund for Talent Research of Xijing University (No. XJ20B10 and No. XJ20B02) and the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities; Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department [20JK0959,20JK0968]; the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China [2021GY-205,2021JM-531,2021JM-534,2021JM-536,2021JQ-877]; Special Fund for Talent Research of Xijing University [XJ20B02, XJ20B10].