The influence of the structure of curable epoxy monomers on the electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices prepared by UV-initiated cationic polymerisation

Abstract

Electro-optical properties are important characteristics of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) devices. In this paper, PDLC films based on liquid crystal (LC)/curable epoxy monomers/cationic photoinitiator composites were prepared by ultraviolet-initiated (UV-initiated) cationic polymerisation using triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate (Ar3S+SbF6 −) as the photoinitiator. The effects of the structures of curable epoxy monomers on PDLC films were investigated. The microstructures of the PDLC films were strongly influenced by the curable epoxy monomers, which in turn influenced the electro-optical properties of PDLC films. It was found that the LC domain size of the polymer network could be regulated by adjusting the structure of curable epoxy monomers, and then the electro-optical properties of PDLC films could be optimised.