Research on the Morphology, Electro-Optical Properties and Mechanical Properties of Electrochromic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystalline Films Doped with Anthraquinone Dyes

In this paper, dye-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystalline (DDPDLC) films were prepared with high mechanical properties and low driving voltage by doping different dichroic anthraquinone dyes. The effects of various dye and doping concentrations on microscopic morphology, electro-optical characteristics, and mechanical characteristics were investigated. The optimal doping concentrations of different dyes were also explored. The results show that the addition of all dyes decreased the contrast ratio (CR) and the transmittance and mechanical properties of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystalline (PDLC) films. Similar mechanisms underlie the effects of solvent red 111 and solvent blue 104, which lower the driving voltages of the PDLC films. With the increasing concentration of the dye, the haze of the films first decreased and then increased after the content of the dye reached a certain level. For PDLC films doped with solvent green 28, the driving voltage and haze increased with the increasing content of the dye. According to different influencing factors, the dye content corresponding to the best performance of solvent red 111, solvent green 28 and solvent blue 104 is 0.8 wt%, 2.0 wt% and 0.3 wt%. Electrochromic PDLC films have been prepared based on the research results of dye content. The mechanical properties, electro-optical properties and microstructures of the films have been studied. The results show that the DDPDLC films could change color by tuning the applied voltages. The research provides a theoretical basis for obtaining PDLC films with a wider color gamut and supports the practical application of visible light camouflage technology in the military.