Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals

The present study focuses on the effect of doping KH560-modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the electro-optical characteristics of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). PDLC films were fabricated through the polymerization-initiated phase separation (PIPS) process and doped with CNC nanop...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jiayan Wang, Yan Qiao, Ziyi Yang, Yue Han, Hui Zhang, Zhiguang Li, Guili Zheng, Yanjun Zhang, Lizhi Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3273
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239811609591808
author Jiayan Wang
Yan Qiao
Ziyi Yang
Yue Han
Hui Zhang
Zhiguang Li
Guili Zheng
Yanjun Zhang
Lizhi Zhu
author_facet Jiayan Wang
Yan Qiao
Ziyi Yang
Yue Han
Hui Zhang
Zhiguang Li
Guili Zheng
Yanjun Zhang
Lizhi Zhu
author_sort Jiayan Wang
collection DOAJ
description The present study focuses on the effect of doping KH560-modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the electro-optical characteristics of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). PDLC films were fabricated through the polymerization-initiated phase separation (PIPS) process and doped with CNC nanoparticles at various concentrations. At low concentrations, the CNCs at the interface, by virtue of their unique chiral characteristics, induce an orderly arrangement of liquid crystal molecules. Meanwhile, the interaction between the film’s fiber structure and the liquid crystal droplets brings about an augmentation in the arrangement efficiency. The excellent dispersion of CNCs diminishes the random alignment of liquid crystal molecules and mitigates light scattering. Additionally, it aids in the deflection of the liquid crystal director, facilitating the lubrication of the liquid crystals’ movement. It is remarkable that within the range of relatively lower CNCs doping concentrations, specifically from 0.005 wt% to 0.05 wt%, the PDLC films exhibit lower threshold and saturation voltages, faster response, enhanced viewing angle performance and higher contrast.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e73dcb0035e4b6188ab3fa62b2a8071
institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-4e73dcb0035e4b6188ab3fa62b2a80712025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-08-013015327310.3390/molecules30153273Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose NanocrystalsJiayan Wang0Yan Qiao1Ziyi Yang2Yue Han3Hui Zhang4Zhiguang Li5Guili Zheng6Yanjun Zhang7Lizhi Zhu8Arizona College of Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaArizona College of Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaArizona College of Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaSchool of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaSchool of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaSchool of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaSchool of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaSchool of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaCollege of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, ChinaThe present study focuses on the effect of doping KH560-modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the electro-optical characteristics of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). PDLC films were fabricated through the polymerization-initiated phase separation (PIPS) process and doped with CNC nanoparticles at various concentrations. At low concentrations, the CNCs at the interface, by virtue of their unique chiral characteristics, induce an orderly arrangement of liquid crystal molecules. Meanwhile, the interaction between the film’s fiber structure and the liquid crystal droplets brings about an augmentation in the arrangement efficiency. The excellent dispersion of CNCs diminishes the random alignment of liquid crystal molecules and mitigates light scattering. Additionally, it aids in the deflection of the liquid crystal director, facilitating the lubrication of the liquid crystals’ movement. It is remarkable that within the range of relatively lower CNCs doping concentrations, specifically from 0.005 wt% to 0.05 wt%, the PDLC films exhibit lower threshold and saturation voltages, faster response, enhanced viewing angle performance and higher contrast.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3273polymer-dispersed liquid crystalscellulose nanocrystalselectro-optical properties
spellingShingle Jiayan Wang
Yan Qiao
Ziyi Yang
Yue Han
Hui Zhang
Zhiguang Li
Guili Zheng
Yanjun Zhang
Lizhi Zhu
Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
Molecules
polymer-dispersed liquid crystals
cellulose nanocrystals
electro-optical properties
title Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
title_full Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
title_fullStr Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
title_full_unstemmed Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
title_short Study on the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Cellulose Nanocrystals
title_sort study on the electro optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals doped with cellulose nanocrystals
topic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals
cellulose nanocrystals
electro-optical properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3273
work_keys_str_mv AT jiayanwang studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT yanqiao studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT ziyiyang studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT yuehan studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT huizhang studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT zhiguangli studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT guilizheng studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT yanjunzhang studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals
AT lizhizhu studyontheelectroopticalpropertiesofpolymerdispersedliquidcrystalsdopedwithcellulosenanocrystals