Electro-Optic Effect of the Optical Switch Panel Using Liquid Crystal Nanocapsules

This study presents the development and characterization of optical switch panels utilizing nanosized liquid crystal (LC) capsules, approximately 200 nm in diameter. These capsules, composed of a nematic host LC and dichroic dyes, were fabricated using a coacervation method. The process involved forming thin polymeric shells around the LC droplets, which were then chemically crosslinked for enhanced stability. The panels were constructed by printing the LC capsules between two ITO-coated PET substrates, with a liquid crystal layer thickness of 15 μm, The electro-optic performance of the panels was evaluated by measuring the transmittance under varying applied voltages and dye concentrations. The results demonstrate that the alignment of LC molecules and dichroic dyes within the nanosized capsules significantly modulates light transmission, offering improved optical switching capabilities. This research contributes to advancing the design and application of nanoscale LC-based optical switches in display technologies.