Nanoscale Surface Treatments to Functionalise Polymer Particles (PARFUN)

The consortium has generated particles with a very narrow size distribution and with properties tailored to the application. The particles have a size of the order 3 to 5 micrometer in diameter. Particles have been characterized extensively with respect to mechanical and surface properties. In order to produce conducting spacers the particles have been coated with nickel and gold. The particles have been incorporated in small prototype LCD cells and these cells have been characterized with respect to performance. No significant distortion of the liquid crystal crystallization is observed in the vicinity of the particles and ion leakage tests showed no leakage.