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Single-substrate liquid-crystal displays by photo-enforced stratification

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Abstract

Data visualization plays a crucial role in our society, as illustrated by the many displays that surround us. In the future, displays may become even more pervasive, ranging from individually addressable image-rendering wall hangings to data displays integrated in clothes1. Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) provide most of the flat-panel displays currently used. To keep pace with the ever-increasing possibilities afforded by developments in information technology, we need to develop manufacturing processes that will make LCDs cheaper and larger, with more freedom in design. Existing batch processes for making and filling LCD cells2,3 are relatively expensive, with size and shape limitations. Here we report a cost-effective, single-substrate technique in which a coated film is transformed into a polymer-covered liquid-crystal layer. This approach is based on photo-enforced stratification: a two-step photopolymerization-induced phase separation of a liquid-crystal blend and a polymer precursor. The process leads to the formation of micrometre-sized containers filled with a switchable liquid-crystal phase. In this way, displays can be produced on a variety of substrates using current coating technology. The developed process may be an important step towards new technologies such as ‘display-on-anything’ and ‘paintable displays’.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of the stratification process.
Figure 2: Shapes of the liquid-crystal-filled boxes of the PES-LCD, as observed by interferometry (a) and through a polarizing microscope (b).
Figure 3: Switching behaviour of a PES-LCD.
Figure 4: Photograph of a PES-LCD demonstration device.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. Lub for synthesis of the stilbene dimethacrylate and for discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Roel Penterman, Stephen I. Klink, Henk de Koning, Giovanni Nisato & Dirk J. Broer

  2. Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB , Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Dirk J. Broer

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  1. Roel Penterman
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  2. Stephen I. Klink
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  3. Henk de Koning
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  4. Giovanni Nisato
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  5. Dirk J. Broer
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Correspondence to Dirk J. Broer.

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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests

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Penterman, R., Klink, S., de Koning, H. et al. Single-substrate liquid-crystal displays by photo-enforced stratification. Nature 417, 55–58 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/417055a

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