CAREER: Real-Space Measurement of Structure and Director Configuration in 3-D: A Study using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy

该提案集中于将聚合物分散液晶（PDLC）用于显示装置。 聚合物分散液晶由嵌入或捕获在通过光聚合形成的聚合物基质中的微米尺寸的小分子（NH4）液晶液滴组成。 该提案的目的是了解正在进行相分离的反应介质中的畴生长的动力学。 一个激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（LSCM）将被用来进行测量确认在这些系统中可操作的生长规律，并开发在三维复杂形态的成像导演配置的方法。 除了本提案所研究的材料之外，这种方法还应在其他各种领域得到应用。 这项研究与教育目标的整合将为本科生和研究生提供一个非常刺激的环境。 本项目实施的研究与教育一体化将为学生提供非常广泛的教育，跨越学科界限，需要液晶，化学，光学和聚合物化学的物理学知识。有机薄膜用于各种技术应用。 它们在显示设备中的作用就是一个很好的例子。 使用液晶来显示信息的设备的使用是相当普遍的，如它们在膝上型计算机屏幕中的使用所证明的。 这种将研究与教育相结合的特殊方法将使本科生和研究生都接触到跨学科研究，从而了解工业环境中的情况。 最大的影响将是教育年轻人，培养年轻的科学家和工程师在未来的就业市场上竞争。 这些推广活动还旨在帮助高中教师了解与这个“塑料时代”有关的社会问题。

9875646SrinivasaraoThis proposal is focused on the use of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) for display devices. Polymer dispersed liquid crystals consist of micron size drops of small molecule (nematic) liquid crystals embedded or trapped in a polymer matrix formed by photopolymerization. The aim of the proposal is to understand the dynamics of domain growth in a reactive medium that is undergoing phase separation. A laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) will be utilized to make measurements confirming growth laws operable in these systems, and to develop methods of imaging director configurations in complicated morphologies in three dimension. Such methods should find applications in a variety of other areas besides the materials under study in this proposal. The integration of this research with education goals will provide a very stimulating environment for students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The integration of research and education to be implemented in this project will provide students with a very broad education that crosses disciplinary boundaries, requiring knowledge of physics of liquid crystals, chemistry, optics, and polymer chemistry.%%%Organic thin films are utilized in various technological applications. Their role in display devices is a case in point. The use of devices for displaying information that use liquid crystals are quite pervasive as is evidenced by their use in laptop computer screens. This particular approach to the integration of research with education will expose both undergraduate and graduate students to interdisciplinary research that provides a glimpse of what is to follow in industrial settings. The biggest impact will be in educating young minds and preparing young scientists and engineers to compete in future job markets. These outreach activities are also designed to help educate high school teachers on issues that are pertinent to society in this "age of plastics".