Contents

Abstructs of Reviews

Liquid Crystalline Polymers as Functional Materials

Naoyuki KOIDE and Takashi MIHARA*
Science University of Tokyo
E-mail: mihara@ch.kagu.sut.ac.jp

Abstract : Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) have anisotropy of physical properties and good processability. Some LCPs have been already commercialized as high performance and functional materials. In this review, we describe the development of photochromic LCPs, cholesteric LCPs, LC block copolymers, LC polyester films, LC elastomers, LC thermosets, LC dendrimers and digital paper based on the reports published over the last few years.
Keywords : side chain type liquid crystalline polymer, main chain type liquid crystalline polymer, liquid crystalline network, liquid crystalline dendrimer, digital paper

Well-defined Phase Sequence Including Nematic, Smectic and Columnar Phases Observed in Hard-Rod Polymers

　Junji WATANABE
Tokyo Institute of Technology
E-mail: jwatanabe@polymer.titech.ac.jp

Abstract : Liquid crystal phases formed by hard-rod polymers have been studied extensively in both theoretical and experimental ways. In the initial stage of studies, it has been shown that a system of long hard molecules can exhibit an orientational ordered nematic phase if the density is sufficiently high. Recently, computer simulation has played an important role in understanding the liquid crystalline behavior of systems composed of hard-rod molecules, and has given the first indication that the smectic and columnar phases can also be formed by systems of molecules which interact through excluded volume interaction alone. In fact, experimental studies carried out on several hard-rod polymers in both lyotropic and thermotropic systems have clarified our understanding of the well-defined phase sequence including nematic, smectic and columnar phases. These will be reviewed in this article.
Keywords : hard-rod polymer, polypeptide, polysilane, excluded volume effect, smectic liquid crystal, columnar liquid crystal

Technologies for High-Definition Liquid Crystal Displays

Manabu KODATE
International Display Technology Co., Ltd.
E-mail: kodate@idtech.co.jp

Abstract : Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are becoming the dominant electronic display device because of their portability and display capability of high-definition images having huge amounts of information content. This arti-cle will review the major technologies required for high-definition LCDs, starting with describing the specific requirements of a pixel resolution limited by the human visual system. Wiring, active-element, and insulating technologies for high-definition LCDs will be compared with the semiconductor technology, and almost all other technologies including the liquid crystal technology will be reviewed from the viewpoint of high-definition LCDs.
Keywords : high-definition, liquid-crystal-display, Landolt's ring, semiconductor

Variety of Molecular Assemblies in Smectic and Related Liquid Crystal Phases

　Isa NISHIYAMA
ERATO YOKOYAMA Project, JST
E-mail: isanish@nanolc.jst.go.jp

Abstract : Various kinds of molecular orderings can be seen in smectic and related liquid crystal phases. Amphiphilic characters, chirality and molecular shape have significant effects on the nature and stability of layered structures. Cooperative or competitive interactions produced by these key factors produce a variety of novel fascinating molecular assemblies in liquid crystal systems.
Keywords : smectic, amphiphilic, chiral, shape, twin

The Molecular Orderings of Smectics Investigated by Polarized Vibrational Raman Spectroscopy

Naoki HAYASHI and Tatsuhisa KATO
Institute of Molecular Science
E-mail: kato@ims.ac.jp

Abstract : The experimental method and analysis of polarized vibrational Raman spectroscopy for investigations in the orientational orderings of smectic liquid crystals are described. An appropriate theoretical model can extract both the molecular orientational distribution given by thermal agitation and the spatial distribution of local director in a macroscopic space from the experimentally obtained apparent orientational order parameters. Our recent results are also shown. 　
Keywords : Key words : smectic liquid crystal, polarized vibrational Raman spectroscopy, orientational order parameter, field-induced molecular reorientation.

Flexible Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Devices

Hideo FUJIKAKE, Takeshi MURASHIGE, and Hiroto SATO*
NHK Lab.
E-mail: satou.h-ga@nhk.or.jp

Abstract : A novel-structure ferroelectric liquid crystal device containing polymer fibers for flexible moving-image displays has been developed using thin plastic substrates. The rigid aligned polymer fiber networks fasten the two flexible substrates to keep the liquid crystal thickness constant and stabilize liquid crystal alignment even when the device is bent. The composite film of liquid crystal and polymer fibers was obtained by a photopolymerization-induced phase separation using a homogeneous solution of liquid crystal and monomer with molecular alignment, and the mechanism of formation of the polymer fiber morphology and the liquid crystal smectic layer deformation between the fibers were investigated in detail. The fabricated liquid crystal device with excellent mechanical flexibility had the continuous grayscale capability according to the change in spatial distribution of liquid crystal switching domains. It also exhibited fast electrooptic response of less than 100 μs due to the high-purity separation of polymer and liquid crystal materials.
Keywords : flexible display, film liquid crystal device, ferroelectric liquid crystal, polymer fiber, photopolymerization-induced phase separation, polymer morphology forming mechanism, smectic layer deformation