title: Optical microscopy studies of dynamics within individual polymer-dispersed liquid crystal droplets.
abstract: Optical devices based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) thin films derive their functional properties from the electric-field-induced reorientation of (sub)micrometer-sized polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (LC) droplets. In these materials, the LC reorientation dynamics are strongly dependent on droplet size and shape, as well as polymer/LC interfacial interactions. The dynamics also vary spatially within individual droplets. This Account describes studies of individual PDLC droplets and their field-induced dynamics by high-resolution near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) and multiphoton-excited fluorescence microscopy (MPEFM). Included are studies of native ("pure") PDLCs and those doped with ionic compounds and dyes; the latter are used in sophisticated photorefractive materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. higgins@ksu.edu
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Aifang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055096:Optical Devices; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D011108:Polymers