Photo-polymerization of liquid crystalline monomers in anisotropic solvents under dynamic conditions

Control of the morphology of anisotropic networks formed in-situ in anisotropic solvents is extended to three dimensions by changing the polymerization direction during the polymerization process. In this investigation, interfacial mechanisms and electrical fields effect the reorientation of a mesogenic diacrylate C3M and a mesogenic cyanobiphenyl 5CB. The morphology and electro-optical characteristics of these novel systems are evaluated and compared with those of conventional anisotropic gels. The feasibility of this concept is demonstrated and the influence of parameters such as the initial polymerization direction and the monomer concentration is demonstrated. The increasingly homeotropic character of the anisotropic network results in response times and threshold voltages that are lower than those of conventional anisotropic gels. Under the right circumstances, this can be realized without a significant increase in relaxation time, which demonstrates the enhanced control over the morphology and the electro-optical characteristics of these polymer/liquid crystal composites.