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Letters to Nature

Nature 417, 55-58 (2 May 2002) | doi:10.1038/417055a; Received 7 January 2002; Accepted 4 March 2002

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Single-substrate liquid-crystal displays by photo-enforced stratification

Roel Penterman1, Stephen I. Klink1, Henk de Koning1, Giovanni Nisato1 & Dirk J. Broer1,2

  1. Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
  2. Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Dirk J. Broer1,2 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.J.B. (e-mail: Email: dick.broer@philips.com).

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Data visualization plays a crucial role in our society, as illustrated by the many displays that surround us. In the future, displays may become even more pervasive, ranging from individually addressable image-rendering wall hangings to data displays integrated in clothes1. Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) provide most of the flat-panel displays currently used. To keep pace with the ever-increasing possibilities afforded by developments in information technology, we need to develop manufacturing processes that will make LCDs cheaper and larger, with more freedom in design. Existing batch processes for making and filling LCD cells2, 3 are relatively expensive, with size and shape limitations. Here we report a cost-effective, single-substrate technique in which a coated film is transformed into a polymer-covered liquid-crystal layer. This approach is based on photo-enforced stratification: a two-step photopolymerization-induced phase separation of a liquid-crystal blend and a polymer precursor. The process leads to the formation of micrometre-sized containers filled with a switchable liquid-crystal phase. In this way, displays can be produced on a variety of substrates using current coating technology. The developed process may be an important step towards new technologies such as 'display-on-anything' and 'paintable displays'.

  1. Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
  2. Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Dirk J. Broer1,2 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.J.B. (e-mail: Email: dick.broer@philips.com).