A bistable polarizer-free electro-optical switch using a droplet manipulation on a liquid crystal and polymer composite film

Abstract

A bistable, polarizer-free, and reflective electro-optical switch based on a droplet manipulation on a liquid crystal and polymer composite film (LCPCF) is demonstrated. A color droplet on LCPCF can be manipulated by a wettability gradient owning to the distribution of LC directors anchored among the polymer grains on LCPCF. The contrast ratio is around 8: 1 in a reflective mode. The potential applications of droplet manipulation are electronic papers and reflective displays. (C)2010 Optical Society of America