Novel vitrifiable liquid crystals as optical materials

Abstract

Vitrifiable liquid crystals (VLCs) have several advantages in optical applications: long‐term mesomorphic stability, environmental durability, ease of processing into thin films, and the capability of large aperture. A generic approach is demonstrated for the molecular design of VLCs with an elevated glass‐transition temperature, in which a subtle balance must be struck between order (LC mesomorphism) and disorder (glass). Selected samples are used to illustrate potential applications in the control of light polarization and polarized photoluminescence.