Abstract
An important parameter of any LCD containing portable electronic device is a low power requirement. The reflective STN display mode offers a moderate to high information content display with low power consumption. One method to realise colour in this mode is to use a large retardation (dΔn) value in the cell. For a cell gap of 6 μm, and a retardation of −1.5, a birefringence (Δn) of greater than +0.2 is necessary. To achieve such a value in an STN LC mixture, materials with broad nematic range, good solubility and a Δn value of <+0.25 are required.
A study of the trans-cyclohexyldifluorophenyltolane core structure was made and a large number of dialkyl, alkenyl-alkyl and alkoxy materials were synthesised and characterised. These materials possess low to moderate melting points, broad purely nematic mesophases, a high Δn and very good solubility in nematic LC hosts. They are suitable materials for inclusion in mixtures for colour reflective STN displays.