Electro-optical properties of polymer-stabilized blue phase with different monomer combination and concentration

Abstract

Electro-optical properties of the polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) liquid crystals (LCs) with different monomer combination and concentration were studied. Kerr constant, voltage-dependent transmittance, response time, residual birefringence and hysteresis were measured for PSBP LCs prepared using acrylate and methacrylate monomer composites. Operating voltages of PSBP LCs prepared by acrylate composites were lower than those of PSBP LCs prepared by methacrylate composites. By contrast, residual birefringence and hysteresis of PSBP LCs prepared by acrylate composites were higher than those of PSBP LCs prepared by methacrylate composites. Faster response and lower hysteresis were observed in PSBP LCs with higher monomer concentration. It was found that monomer combination and concentration strongly affected the electro-optical properties of PSBP LCs.