Broadband polarizing films by photopolymerization-induced phase separation and in situ swelling

This letter describes the spectral broadening of cholesteric liquid crystal films prepared from a blend comprising a cross-linkable liquid crystal polymer and a noncross-linkable low-molecular-weight liquid crystal. The bandwidth of the broadened reflection band can be increased by several times upon photopolymerization. The spectral broadening arises from the formation of gradient pitch across the film thickness. It is shown that both phase separation and in situ swelling are important mechanisms for the resulting film structure. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.