The contribution of network elasticity to electro-optic response in polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals
Brian P. Radka, Gaurav K. Pande, Timothy J. White
Abstract
Polymer stabilization of cholesteric liquid crystals can enable dynamic reconfiguration of the selective reflection of the CLC phase. Here, we explore how the contribution of the elasticity of the polymer stabilizing network affects the ion-mediated, electromechanical deformation and associated electro-optic response in PSCLCs. We utilize a free-radical chain transfer reaction between acrylate and thiol monomers that has been used to prepare elastomeric networks. This work maps the compositional contributions of total concentration and crosslink density to tuning and recovery.
Topics & Concepts
Materials scienceAcrylatePolymer networkElastomerMonomerPolymerElasticity (physics)Cholesteric liquid crystalLiquid crystalChemical engineeringPolymer chemistryComposite materialOptoelectronicsEngineeringLiquid Crystal Research AdvancementsSurfactants and Colloidal SystemsLipid Membrane Structure and Behavior