Effects of rigid structures containing (meth)acrylate monomers and crosslinking agents with different chain length on the morphology and electro-optical properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films

This contribution investigates the preparation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films based on meth(acrylate) monomers containing rigid structures. The current study specifically focuses on comparison of the monomers on the basis of meth(acrylate) side group, flexible/rigid structures and rigidity. We find that methacrylate monomers exhibit more preferable electro-optic properties than that of the acrylate monomers. Furthermore, through the systematic variation of rigidity, composition of the monomers and chain length of crosslinking agents, both the morphologies and electro-optic properties of these films are found to be adjustable. A composite film is demonstrated by employing moderately rigid monomer (tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) with low driving voltage (21.0 V) and high contrast ratio (87.5). Therefore, the studies here provide a new approach to optimize the electro-optical properties of the PDLC films by introducing monomers with rigid structures.