Polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal for flexible displays

We developed a novel-structured ferroelectric liquid crystal (LC) device containing two fine polymer structures for a flexible moving-image display incorporating thin plastic film substrates. Aligned polymer fibers of sub-mum-diameter stabilize the LC alignment and create high-speed grayscale capability, while the polymer walls attach the two flexible plastic substrates and keep the gap between the substrates constant when the structure is bent. The composite film was obtained by photopolymerization-induced phase separation using a solution film of LC and monomer that was coated by a flexographic printing method. The fabricated device has great potential for flexible large-area moving-image displays. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.