Optically isotropic polymer dispersed liquid crystal composite for high contrast ratio and fast response time

The optically isotropic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) mode has been proposed by confining liquid crystal droplets, with average sizes less than the wavelength of visible light, in polymer network. This state has been achieved via polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) method in pre-polymer/LC mixture. The in-plane field driven device shows a complete dark state in voltage 'off' under crossed polarizer and excellent white state with induced retardation by Kerr effect in voltage 'on' state with an ultrafast response time over a wide temperature range and high contrast ratio.