A method for the formation of polymer walls in liquid crystal/polymer mixtures

We have investigated the formation of polymer walls for high polymer content liquid crystal (LC) formulations, using a patterned electric field to induce phase separation. The effect of this field on the phase separation temperature of a LC/monomer mixture is studied as a function of the photopolymerizable monomer concentration. The phase separation temperature increases with the patterned field strength. The application of a patterned field results in segregation of the LC molecules in the high electric field regions, i.e., pixels, whereas the monomers segregate in the low-field regions, i.e., interpixels. Subsequent photopolymerization results in the formation of polymer walls around the pixels. The structure of the polymer walls was investigated using scanning electron microscopy.