Advances in Liquid Crystalline Materials and Technologies

Numerous established and newly emerging technologies are taking advantage of the novel properties of liquid crystalline (LC) materials. The unique optical, electro-optical and mechanical properties of LC fluids, polymers and composites enable applicability and significant improvements in a number of advanced technologies including displays, telecommunication, information storage and mechanical actuation. Advances in both low-molar mass and polymeric systems, ranging from synthesis to device physics, enable the continued integration of this class of materials into real-world applications. This book spans a diverse set of LC-related topics, from reports on the latest hot research areas, including flexoelectro-optics, V-shaped switching, chiral discotics, and banana phases, to developments in LC-polymer composite systems and LC gels. Much of the work has potential applicability, ranging from sophisticated photonics and beam-steering to creation of 'electronic paper'. Topics include: smectic and chiral liquid crystals and gels; photo-polymerization and liquid crystals; emerging concepts in liquid crystals; rheology of liquid crystals and main chain/lyotropic systems.