Journal of Applied Physics· 2026Q2
Distortion-free scattering regime in polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals: Textural, electro-optical, and dielectric behavior
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Adding 2.0-4.0 wt.% polymer to cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) stabilizes the helical structure, enabling a distortion-free scattering regime with lower switching voltages (~29-30 Vrms) and higher contrast ratios (up to 34.68) in 4.0 wt.% PSCLCs.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Polymer stabilization (2.0-4.0 wt.%) in CLCs creates a distortion-free scattering regime with enhanced helical structure stability.
- 2.0 wt.% PSCLCs show lower switching voltages (∼29–30 Vrms).
- 4.0 wt.% PSCLCs yield higher contrast ratios, reaching 34.68 with planar alignment.
- Dielectric permittivity peaks at 10 kHz for 2.0 wt.% PSCLCs, while DC conductivity is minimized in 4.0 wt.% PSCLCs.
- Isotropic phase-transition temperature is reduced by ~5°C in PSCLCs compared to pure CLC.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Herein, the influence of polymer concentrations (1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 wt. %) on the textural, electro-optical, and dielectric behavior of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) has been investigated. The textural behavior reveals that the cholesteric helical structure progressively stabilizes with focal-conic alignment in 2.0 and 4.0 wt. % PSCLCs and attained the distortion-free scattering regime as compared to pure CLC. The electro-optical behavior confirms the minimum and maximum transmittances obtained in corresponding planar, focal-conic, and homeotropic states as well as exhibits lower switching voltage (∼29–30 Vrms) for 2.0 wt. % PSCLC. The contrast ratio increases with polymer concentration, reaching the peaks of 34.68 and 24.85, when operating with initial planar or focal-conic states of PSCLCs, respectively, in 4.0 wt. % PSCLC. In addition, the maximum dielectric permittivity at 10 kHz is achieved for 2.0 wt. % PSCLC, and the resonance frequency is found at 2.6 × 106 Hz. The DC conductivity is minimum for 4.0 wt. % PSCLC due to restricted molecular mobility. The isotropic phase-transition temperature was reduced by ∼5 °C in PSCLCs as compared with pure CLC. Thus, the polymer concentration governs surface-induced alignment, interfacial stabilization, and electro-optical performance of PSCLCs for advanced surface-functional applications such as distortion-free scattering regime smart windows and high-contrast light shutters/displays.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Applied Physics, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsMaterials Science