NSF-CGP Science Fellowship Program: Surface Anchoring and Alignment in Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

wpc2 B jz Courier #| x 6F x 6 x @ ' 7 x @ HP LaserJet 4 (935-Mail) INTHP4-1。PRS x @ \ E x @ 2 6 F V N Z #| x快递员？HP LaserJet 4 (935-Mail) INTHP4-1。该奖项将支持俄亥俄州肯特州立大学液晶研究所的John L. West教授和东京农业技术大学工学院的Shunsuke Kobayashi博士的合作研究项目。在为期四个月的访问中，West教授将对聚合物分散液晶（PDLC）的表面锚定和排列进行研究。将测量作为共晶液晶混合物E7在聚乙烯醇形式表面温度函数的方位锚定能。实验结果表明，在聚合物粘结剂的玻璃化转变温度下，PDLC的电光响应会发生突变。这项实验技术将扩展到其他聚合物和液晶的组合。建立聚合物玻璃化转变与方位锚定能之间的正相关关系将导致各种各样的额外研究，例如确定锚定能是否是由不同聚合物粘合剂组成的PDLC材料中观察到的电光变化的原因。了解PDLC材料电学中表面锚定的机制和作用将使材料能够针对各种应用进行优化，例如高清晰度投影和平板显示。Kobayashi教授是液晶研究的前沿，在液晶在固体界面的定位和锚定方面具有专业知识。这种专业化与West教授在PDLC和相关复合材料方面的重要研究相结合，将提供良好的合作，并将在本阶段研究完成后继续进行。本项目由美国国家科学基金会（NSF） CGP （Center for Global Partnership）科学奖学金计划资助。

WPC 2 B J Z Courier #| x 6F x 6 X @ `7 X @ HP LaserJet 4 (935-Mail) INTHP4-1.PRS x @ \ E X @ 2 6 F V N Z #| x Courier ? x x x , x 6 X @ `7 X @ HP LaserJet 4 (935-Mail) INTHP4-1.PRS x @ \ E X @ 2 0 F Z : 9311612 West This award will support a cooperative research project between Professor John L. West, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Ohio, and Dr. Shunsuke Kobayashi, Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in Tokyo. During a four month visit, Professor West will conduct research on surface anchoring and alignment in polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC). Measurements will be taken of the azimuthal anchoring energy as a function of temperature of the eutectic liquid crystal mixture E7 at a polyvinylformal surface. The results will be correlated with previous experimental results which show that the electro optic response of a PDLC changes abruptly at the glass transition temperature of the polymer binder. The experimental technique will then be expanded to other polymer and liquid crystal combinations. Establishment of a positive correlation between the polymer glass transition and azimuthal anchoring energy will lead to a wide variety of additional research, such as determining if anchoring energy is the cause of observed electro optic variations in PDLC materials composed of different polymer binders. Understanding of the mechanism and role of surface anchoring in the electro optics of PDLC materials will allow materials to be optimized for a variety of applications such as high definition projection and flat panel displays. Professor Kobayashi is at the forefront of liquid cr ystal research, with expertise in the alignment and anchoring of liquid crystals at a solid interface. This specialization coupled with Professor West's significant research in PDLC and related composites should provide an excellent collaboration that will continue after the completion of this phase of the research. This project is supported by the NSF CGP (Center for Global Partnership) Science Fellowship Program.