Polymer-Stabilized Chromonic Liquid-Crystalline Polarizer

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2011-06, Vol.21 (11), p.2129-2139
• Main Authors: Park, Seul-Ki, Kim, So-Eun, Kim, Dae-Yoon, Kang, Shin-Woong, Shin, Seunghan, Kuo, Shiao-Wei, Hwang, Seok-Ho, Lee, Seung Hee, Lee, Myong-Hoon, Jeong, Kwang-Un
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beta; coatable polarizers; Coating; Devices; lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals; Molecular structure; Polarizers; polymers; Self assembly; Sunset; Unit cell
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201002546

Robust coatable polarizer is fabricated by the self‐assembly of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals and subsequent photo‐polymerizing processes. Their molecular packing structures and optical behaviors are investigated by the combined techniques of microscopy, scattering and spectroscopy. To stabilize the oriented Sunset Yellow FCF (H‐SY) films and to minimize the possible defects generated during and after the coating, acrylic acid (AA) is added to the H‐SY/H2O solution and photo‐polymerized. Utilizing cross‐polarized optical microscopy, phase behaviors of the H‐SY/H2O/AA solution are monitored by varying the compositions and temperatures of the solution. Based on the experimental results of two‐dimensional wide angle X‐ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction, the H‐SY crystalline unit cell is determined to be a monoclinic structure with the dimensions of a = 1.70 nm, b = 1.78 nm, c = 0.68 nm, α = β = 90.0° and γ = 84.5°. The molecular arrangements in the oriented H‐SY films were further confirmed by polarized Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The polymer‐stabilized H‐SY films show good mechanical and chemical stabilities with a high polarizability. Additionally, patterned polarizers are fabricated by applying a photo‐mask during the photo‐polymerization of AA, which may open new doors for practical applications in electro‐optic devices. A robust coatable polarizer is fabricated by the self‐assembly of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals and subsequent photo‐polymerizing processes. Their molecular packing structures and optical behaviors are investigated with microscopy, scattering, and spectroscopy.