Polymer dispersed liquid crystals with electrically controlled light scattering in the visible and near-infrared ranges

Abstract

We developed polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) that effectively scatter light both in the visible and near-infrared ranges simultaneously. Such PDLCs are characterized by an optimal size distribution of nematic liquid crystal droplets within 0.4 − 3 µm, which is achieved due to the specially selected copolymer, the elaborated liquid crystal material as well as the proper cooling mode from the isotropic phase. These PDLC films provide electrically controlled light scattering modulation in the spectral range 300 − 2300 nm with the response time around 10 ms.