Stabilization and electro-optical switching of liquid crystal blue phases using unpolymerized and polymerized polyoxometalate-based nanoparticles. (23rd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jiao; Lin, Chang-Gen; Li, Juntao; Wei, Jie; Song, Yu-Fei; Guo, Jinbao
• Is Part Of: Molecular crystals and liquid crystals. Volume 634(2016)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2016-07-23
• Subjects: Polyoxometalate-based nanoparticles -- liquid crystal blue phases -- polymer network -- stabilization -- electro-optical switching; Molecular crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals; Molecular crystals; Periodicals; 548
• DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2016.1177900
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-1406

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this study, unpolymerizable and polymerizable polyoxometalate (POM)-based nanoparticles have been developed for the stabilization of liquid crystal blue phase (LC-BPs). The result demonstrates that BPs could be stabilized with the help of doped unpolymerizable POM nanoparticles, leading to widening of the temperature range of BP. Meanwhile, photo polymerization of polymerizable POM-based nanoparticle allows for the formation of POM-based polymer networks into the disclination lines in polymer stabilized BPs, yielding the stabilization of BPs. Remarkably, the participation of the polymer network formation of POM-based nanoparticle could be visualized by energy-dispersive X-ray elemental maps due to the existence of tungsten. Finally, electro-optical switching of polymer stabilized BPs based on the Kerr effect has been investigated in detail. POM-based polymer networks within disclination lines yield a decrease in free energy of BP system, thus enabling a reduction in the switching voltage of the BP device. These results are significant contributions to the BP fundamental research and the technical progress in areas of LC photonic application.