Switchable Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Reflection Gratings Based on Thiol−Ene Photopolymerization

Holographic reflection gratings in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) were formed by thiol−ene photopolymerization. Using UV laser light and a single prism, electrically switchable reflection gratings in blue, green, yellow, and red colors were fabricated. Results indicate that thiol−ene polymers function as better hosts for H-PDLC than multifunctional acrylate as matrixes. These differences are the result of a much different temporal structure development caused by fundamental differences in the polymerization propagation mechanism: a step-growth addition mechanism for the thiol−ene system compared to a chain-growth addition mechanism in multifunctional acrylates. Morphology studies by TEM support these conclusions, as striking differences in droplet shape and uniformity are observed. Discrete nematic droplets with a nearly spherical shape were seen. Thiol−ene polymers offer lower switching fields, higher diffraction efficiencies, better optical properties, and higher thermal stabilities. The response times of the thiol−ene gratings were five times slower than those of acrylates.