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Short pitch cholesteric electro-optical device based on periodic polymer structures

The so-called uniform lying helix (ULH) arrangement of a cholesteric liquid crystal is useful for the exploitation of the helical flexo-electro-optic effect in next-generation high speed field sequential colour displays. However, the structure is difficult to align (leading to low display contrast) and is not stable. This work (using periodic polymer structures) overcame both problems. This represents a major step in the potential for this technology. Subsequently the ideas have been used by Merck through the use of mould-templated channels for high-quality ULH liquid crystal alignment, and in our EU-FP7 programme Biaxial Nematic Devices (BIND- 3.2MEuro).