The effect of MWS polarisation on the morphology and electro-optical behaviour of normal-mode polymer-stabilised cholesteric textures

We investigate the process and the resulting properties of the curing electric-field-induced segregation of reactive monomers (containing polar groups) in a host liquid crystal. The obtained dielectric spectrum of these cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) reveals polarisation at low frequencies. This is a strong indication that charge carriers accumulate at the interface between the sample and the electrodes in these compounds and consistent with Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) polarisation. A polymer film forms on the substrate with its thickness determined by the MWS polarisation strength. The SEM images show that the polymer network becomes less dense when MWS polarisation increases. The results are a higher operating voltage and faster response time.