Effects of Diverse Acrylates on the Electro-Optical Performance of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films

This study investigated the influence of different functional groups on the electro-optical properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films. Twelve acrylate monomers with functional groups like amino, halogen, and double-bond were introduced into PDLC films, and twelve samples were prepared. The electro-optical properties and microstructure of the films were characterized. Results show that compared to films with amino and halogen groups, those with hydroxyl groups have the best balance of driving voltage and contrast, achieving higher contrast at lower driving voltage, making it an ideal preparation scheme for low-voltage, high-contrast PDLC films. Also, in the presence of hydroxyl groups, introducing double-bond increases driving voltage and decreases saturation. As the distance between hydroxyl and double-bond in the molecule rises, their mutual influence weakens, leading to a simultaneous increase in driving voltage and contrast.