Polarizer-Free Gradient Dye-Doped Liquid Crystal Gels

Abstract

A multi-switch display using gradient dye-doped LC gels which is still polarizer-free, fast response (∼10ms in general), and high contrast (∼200:1 in general) has demonstrated. By controlling the spatial distribution of the density of polymer networks through fabrication process, gradient dye-doped LC gels can be a multi-switch. The gradient dye-doped LC gel is bright without applied voltage and is dark at a high voltage. It appears the colored pattern when LCs are partially reoriented due to the gradient density of polymer networks. The optical analysis of dye-doped LC gels is also discussed. The potential applications are flexible display and decorative displays.

Keywords:

• gel
• guest-host display
• liquid crystal
• polarization-independent
• polarizer-free

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to Dr. Yung-Hsun Wu (INNOLUX Display Corp., Taiwan) for technical discussions. This work is supported by Electronics & Optoelectronics Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (Taiwan) and National Science Council (NSC) in Taiwan under project number: 96-2112-M-009-019-MY2.