ELECTROOPTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AMINO-GEL-GLASS-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL AND ITS MATRIX FORMATION

Abstract

The gel-glass-dispersed liquid crystals (GDLCs) from amino-silicon alkoxides have successfully been prepared in a short time by sol-gel process. Those GDLCs had the same operation mechanism and performances as polymer-dispersed liquid crystal(PDLC). The electrooptic characteristic of the GDLC strongly depended on the composition of raw materials and the concentrations of liquid crystal. Titanium ethoxide was used successfully to adjust the refractive index of the gel-glass matrix, but it caused the gel-glass to be less flexible and the GDLC operated at a higher voltage. GDLC-13 had a reasonable operation voltage of 13 V, a good on-state transmittance of 100%, and a good contrast of 16.2. The introducing of a two-functional amino silane, (3-[diethoxymethylsilyl] propylamine), in the composition of matrix raw materials offered the gel-glass matrix better flexibility, higher conductivity, and greater capacity for trapping liquid crystal. It resulted in a significant improvement of the electrooptic characteristic of the GDLC