Effect of Network Concentration on the Performance of Polymer-Stabilized Cholesteric Liquid Crystals with a Double-Handed Circularly Polarized Light Reflection Band

Polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) with a double-handed circularly polarized reflection band are fabricated by a wash-out re II method. By removing the low molar weight Cs from the original PSC C Im, desirable li uid crystals ( Cs) can be in Itrated into a prefabricated polymer network. The result showed that the memory of the polymer network controls the resulting material properties. The concentration of the prefabricated polymer network also plays a relevant role in the formation of a single-layer cholesteric C (Ch- C) structure that has a clear-cut double-handed circularly polarized re ection band. A light-scattering phenomenon occurring in the system alters the re ection proper-ties of Ch- Cs, which is due to the weak anchoring effect of the network when PSC C Im contains a low network concentration. Both kinds of circularly polarized re ection become more obvious with increase in the network concentration, followed by the strong anchoring effect of the network. The techni ue developed in this study has great applications in industries that re uire solid optical functional Ims and coatings.