Effect of liquid crystal concentration on electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens for smart electronic glasses with auto-shading and auto-focusing function

Abstract

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal lenses were prepared from a mixture of prepolymer (NOA 65) and E7 liquid crystal. The mixture of polymer dispersed liquid crystal was polymerized by ultraviolet (UV) curing in the polymerization induced phase separation process. With liquid crystal concentration, electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens devices including transmittance, driving voltage, response times, contrast ratio and slope of the linear region of the transmittance-voltage were measured and optimized for smart electronic glasses. The optimum concentration for polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens was NOA 65 of 40% and E7 liquid crystal concentration of 60%. This is the first report of the use of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens for smart electronic glasses with auto-shading and/or auto-focusing functions.