Effect of size polydispersity in polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal films

Abstract

The electro-optical effect of size polydispersity in polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) films is investigated. Liquid crystal (LC) droplets of different sizes require different electric field amplitudes for director reorientation, which will produce a mismatch of effective refractive indices. This, in turn, will produce an increase in interdroplet scattering (i.e., decrease in the direct transmitted light) within a specific range of electric field amplitudes. We propose a phenomenological “two-size” model describing this enhanced “pseudo-off-state” achieved under application of an electrical field and present validation experiments. Our approach may be used to get more insight into the transmittance behavior of PDLCs affecting the contrast ratio.