Electrically Switched Liquid Crystal Color and Device Applications

We demonstrate a polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal (PSChLC) where the reflected color can be electrically-switched to reflect a different color at a shorter wavelength (blue-shift). A polymerizable additive formulation is used to ensure a wider range of color tuning and anisotropic reflection where on side reflects and the other side transmits the incident light in response to applied voltage. A second electrically switched color based on polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) liquid crystal is also demonstrated. Applying an electric field across the cell results in a red-shift in Bragg reflected wavelength due to the electrostriction effect. These switchable color devices of are color filters and polarizers free which are suitable for electronic papers.