Smectic C* Liquid Crystalline/Amorphous Block Copolymers for Electro-optical Applications

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This starter grant award to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will support the research of Professor Paula Hammond. The theme of the research is the design, synthesis, and characterization of new optical and electro-optical polymeric materials. The first component of the research focuses on the synthesis of bulk liquid crystalline block copolymers with unique linear and nonlinear optical and mechano-optical properties derived from the controlled morphologies of the polymers. The second component involves the patterned deposition of polymers onto surfaces to form optically functional thin film devices utilizing micro-patterned self-assembled monolayers as a template. Liquid crystalline polymers have great potential for use in optical switches or valves, storage devices, and other electro-optic device applications. This research will exploit special morphologies to produce copolymers ideal for device applications.