A charge-transfer material enables patterning approach where the polarization angle in stand-alone films can be precisely defined at the single pixel level and reconfigured following initial alignment. This capability enables new routes for non-binary information storage, retrieval, and intrinsic encryption, and it suggests future technologies such as photonic chips that can be reconfigured using non-contact patterning.

The present invention relates to an optical code including a film of a charge-transfer material, as well as methods thereof. Described herein are optical codes having anisotropic and/or isotropic regions within the film, which can be provided in a pattern that serves as an optical code.

A method of achieving higher polar anchoring strength of liquid crystal (LC) using monolayer graphene flakes in an LC device and attaining faster electro-optic switching in an LC device comprising the steps of providing graphene in an ethanol solvent, adding a liquid crystal to the graphene and ethanol solution, forming a liquid crystal graphene ethanol solution, evaporating the ethanol, and forming a pure liquid crystal graphene mixture. A liquid crystal device with faster electro-optic switching and higher polar anchoring strength comprising an LC cell having a polyimide (PI) alignment layer, the liquid crystal graphene mixture, wherein the graphene flakes preferentially attach to the PI alignment layer; wherein the effective polar anchoring energy in the LC cell is enhanced by an order of magnitude and wherein the electro-optic response of the LC is accelerated.

The invention relates to a reactive mesogen (RM) formulation comprising a conductive additive, to a polymer film obtained thereof, and the use of the RM formulation and polymer film in optical or electrooptical components or devices, like optical retardation films for liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

A charge transporting, liquid crystal photoalignment material comprising a charge transporting moiety connected through covalent chemical bonds to a surface derivatising moiety, and a photoalignment moiety connected through covalent chemical bonds to a surface derivatising moiety.

A method of achieving higher polar anchoring strength of liquid crystal (LC) using monolayer graphene flakes in an LC device and attaining faster electro-optic switching in an LC device comprising the steps of providing graphene in an ethanol solvent, adding a liquid crystal to the graphene and ethanol solution, forming a liquid crystal graphene ethanol solution, evaporating the ethanol, and forming a pure liquid crystal graphene mixture. A liquid crystal device with faster electro-optic switching and higher polar anchoring strength comprising an LC cell having a polyimide (PI) alignment layer, the liquid crystal graphene mixture, wherein the graphene flakes preferentially attach to the PI alignment layer; wherein the effective polar anchoring energy in the LC cell is enhanced by an order of magnitude and wherein the electro-optic response of the LC is accelerated.

An optical device includes a first electrode and a medium that includes ferroelectric liquid crystals and chiral dopants. The medium is located adjacent to the first electrode. The optical device may also include a second electrode distinct and separate from the first electrode. The optical device may be used as an optical dimming device, controlling an amount light passing through the optical device based on a voltage gradient provided to the optical device.

Described herein are reverse-mode polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) compositions with a plurality of domains. In addition, selectively dimmable reverse-mode PDLC elements and devices using the aforementioned compositions are also described, which are transparent when no voltage is applied and opaque when a voltage is applied.

The present application relates to a liquid crystal cell and a use of the liquid crystal cell. The present application can provide a liquid crystal cell which is capable of switching between a transparent mode and a scattering mode by using a non-ionic compound as a liquid crystal additive for realizing the EHDI characteristics and has excellent performance such as a driving voltage characteristic, a haze characteristic and reliability by securing solubility of the additive for liquid crystals. Such a liquid crystal cell can be applied to various light modulation devices such as a smart window, a window protective film, a flexible display device, a light shielding plate for transparent display, an active retarder for 3D image display, or a viewing angle adjusting film.

A patterned linear polarizer layer is obtained by shear coating a polymeric lyotropic liquid crystal solution on a coatable substrate, drying and treating the resulting polymer layer with a doping-passivation solution containing the dopant and multi-valent cations, where the patterned structure is obtained using various methods like restricting the doping process to certain areas of the polymer layer or discoloring the doping agent in certain areas of the linear polarizer or by selective removal of parts of the linear polarizer layer and others. The thickness of the dry linear polarizer coating layer is 2.0 micrometer or less.