Flexible polymer network liquid crystals using imprinted spacers bonded by UV-curable reactive mesogen for smart window applications

Abstract

We propose junction-type, vertically aligned polymer network liquid crystals using plastic substrates for flexible smart windows, in which the spacers are formed with the imprinting method and are bonded to the substrate surface by UV-curable reactive mesogen (RM). We clarified that the optical property can be improved by suppressing the aggregation of RMs around the spacers through thinning of the coating of the RM and the simultaneous improvement of the wettability of the parallel alignment film. We achieved excellent haze properties of 3.0% with voltage off and 92.7% with voltage on, and high curvature performance with a small curvature radius of 9.0 mm.

Keywords

• liquid crystal
• polymer network liquid crystal
• imprinted spacer
• reactive mesogen
• flexible smart window