Faster switching polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices incorporated with functionalized SWCNTs

Abstract

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) were fabricated using acrylate-based UV curable monomer and a low birefringent nematic liquid crystal, 5PCH, by polymerization induced phase separation method. The effect of ODA-SWCNT dispersion on electro-optical properties of PDLC was investigated and compared with the undoped PDLC. The total response time reduces by 70%, and threshold voltage decreases by 42% in PDLC prepared with 0.015 wt% ODA-SWCNT nanocomposites of 5PCH, compared to the PDLC prepared with pure 5PCH. The optical transparency and sharpness of the image in ON-state was found to be remarkably better in the ODA-SWCNT incorporated PDLC as compared to the PDLC prepared with pure 5PCH.