DICHROIC-DYE-DOPED ISOTROPIC CHIRAL LIQUID CRYSTALS

摘要

Disclosed are polarization-independent electro-optical compositions using dichroic-dye-doped polymer stabilized optically isotropic chiral liquid crystals. The isotropic phase of such compositions can be well maintained even if the temperature is below 0° C. The electro-optical performances of such compositions demonstrate large Kerr constants, fast response times, and large contrast ratios of the compositions. The power consumption and the cost of devices based on the compositions can be decreased substantially due to alignment-free and polarizer-free characteristics. The compositions can be used to generate low power consumption displays and other photonic devices.

主权项

1. A liquid crystal composition, comprising
about 30% to about 97% by weight of a nematic liquid crystal compound; about 2% to about 50% by weight of a chiral agent; and about 0.25% to about 10% by weight of a dichroic dye compound of formula (1):
Wd-Ad-Zd,  (1) wherein
the nematic liquid crystal compound, chiral agent, and dichroic dye compound are in a polymer matrix, where the polymer matrix is about 1% to about 50% by weight of the composition;Wd is alkyl, alkoxyl, hydroxyl substituted alkyl, —CN, —NO2, N-piperidinyl, N-pyrrolidinyl, N-benzathiazolyl, or —NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 are independently alkyl, alkoxyl, an alkylidene ring, or hydroxyl substituted alkyl;Ad is wherein Xd is bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—, —N═N—, or anthraquinolenyl; and Yd is bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—, —N═N—, or anthraquinolenyl; andZd is alkyl, alkoxyl, hydroxyl substituted alkyl, —CN, —NO2, N-piperidinyl, N-pyrrolidinyl, N-benzathiazolyl, or NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 are independently alkyl, alkoxyl, an alkylidene ring, or hydroxyl substituted alkyl.