The effect of bi-component acrylate prepolymers on the phase separation and electro-optical properties of pixel-isolated liquid crystals

In this paper, we propose a pixel isolated liquid crystal (PILC) display using prepolymers containing bi-component acrylate monomers. The phase separation behavior and polymer wall structure of PILC were closely related to the solubility parameter and surface free energy of acrylate monomers. The polymer wall structure of bi-component prepolymers was readily controlled by the composition of acrylate monomers. We also investigated the electro-optical performances of PILC devices prepared by using bi-component prepolymers and found that they were related with the surface anchoring effect of polymer walls. Anchoring energy between LC and polymer walls was decreased by introducing fluorinated acrylate monomer into prepolymers and the driving properties of LC molecules by an external electric field were improved. Thus, the control method of polymer wall structure by using bi-component prepolymers can be applied to various types of LC–polymer composite systems for obtaining improved flexible displays.

► Chemical structure of a prepolymer was related with the phase separation behavior between the prepolymer and liquid crystals.
► Phase separation structure between a prepolymer and liquid crystals was controlled by the composition of the prepolymer.
► Anchoring energy and polymer wall structure affect the electro-optical properties of pixel-isolated liquid crystals.