Printable flexible cholesteric capsule display with a fine resolution of RGB subpixels

We report a method for fabricating a cholesteric liquid crystal capsule display wherein the red, green, and blue capsules are separated in the subpixels with a width of 200 μm. The mixture of a photo-isomerizable chiral dopant and a nematic liquid crystal was encapsulated by an emulsification technique, and then directly printed onto a plastic substrate. A UV light with different amount of energy was exposed through a shadow photomask, and consequently, the red, green, and blue colors were separately induced in each subpixels zone.

► We suggested a printable flexible cholesteric liquid crystal display. We merged an encapsulation technique with a photo-isomerizable chiral dopant. ► RGB colors are separately rendered in the fine subpixel with a width of 200 μm. Diffusion of color in the vicinity of neighboring pixels was suppressed. ► Viewing angle property was enhanced by the rounded boundary of the polymer capsule. Operation voltage was not significantly increased.