We have studied the effects of confinement on the order and dynamics of the 5CB liquid crystal (LC) inside nanosized droplets of a reflection-mode holographic-polymer dispersed LC (H-PDLC) device, consisting of alternating LC nanodroplets and polymer layers, forming a diffraction grating. Here we have investigated, taking advantage the high sensitivity of the EPR spin probe technique, a series of temperatures spanning the nematic and isotropic phase of the LC. The occurrence of phase separation and the consequent formation of a diffraction grating was revealed by SEM images of the HPDLC cross section and by the presence of a reflection peak around 565 nm. Differently from the case of BL038 LC based H-PDLCs, the results here indicate the absence of an ordered fraction of mesogens throughout the analysed temperature range. Taking into account a previous model of LC molecules arrangement in the same kind of device [Bacchiocchi, C., et al. (2009). J. Phys. Chem. B 113, 5391], we postulate the presence of very small droplets in which the surface anchoring constraints represent the dominant effect. This results in the hindrance of the LC uniform macroscopic alignment, providing a plausible explanation for the malfunctioning of these devices.
C. Bacchiocchi, I.Miglioli, A. Arcioni, K. Rai, A. Fontecchio, C. Zannoni (2012). EPR study of order and dynamics of the 5CB liquid crystal in an H-PDLC device. MOLECULAR CRYSTALS AND LIQUID CRYSTALS, 558, 127-139 [10.1080/15421406.2011.654181].
EPR study of order and dynamics of the 5CB liquid crystal in an H-PDLC device
BACCHIOCCHI, CORRADO;MIGLIOLI, ISABELLA;ARCIONI, ALBERTO;ZANNONI, CLAUDIO
2012
Abstract
We have studied the effects of confinement on the order and dynamics of the 5CB liquid crystal (LC) inside nanosized droplets of a reflection-mode holographic-polymer dispersed LC (H-PDLC) device, consisting of alternating LC nanodroplets and polymer layers, forming a diffraction grating. Here we have investigated, taking advantage the high sensitivity of the EPR spin probe technique, a series of temperatures spanning the nematic and isotropic phase of the LC. The occurrence of phase separation and the consequent formation of a diffraction grating was revealed by SEM images of the HPDLC cross section and by the presence of a reflection peak around 565 nm. Differently from the case of BL038 LC based H-PDLCs, the results here indicate the absence of an ordered fraction of mesogens throughout the analysed temperature range. Taking into account a previous model of LC molecules arrangement in the same kind of device [Bacchiocchi, C., et al. (2009). J. Phys. Chem. B 113, 5391], we postulate the presence of very small droplets in which the surface anchoring constraints represent the dominant effect. This results in the hindrance of the LC uniform macroscopic alignment, providing a plausible explanation for the malfunctioning of these devices.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.