New Diluter Solubilized in Liquid Crystal Compounds for High Stability and Fast Response Speed Liquid Crystal Displays

Diluters play a crucial role for reducing the rotational viscosity of liquid crystal (LC) materials for improving the response property of LC displays (LCDs). However, conventional diluters tend to deteriorate relatively easily under ultraviolet (UV) exposure, due to existence of vinyl groups. Hence, it was difficult to prepare polymer layers in the LC cells by exposing UV for polymerization regarding polymer-sustained vertically-aligned (PS-VA) and polyimide-free (PI-free) technologies. In this study, however, we succeeded to develop a high stable diluter, which shows a symmetrical structure and carries fluorinated groups for stable nematic phase and high affinity with other fluorinated LC compounds. With the use of the symmetrical-structured diluter, we developed the PS-VA and the PI-free in-plane switching cells with a fast response rate and high voltage holding ratio, by combining a reactive monomer including an azobenzene moiety.