Reactive liquid crystal materials for optically anisotropic patterned retarders

Richard Harding; Iain Gardiner; Hyun-Jin Yoon; Tara Perrett; Owain Parri; Karl Skjonnemand

doi:10.1117/12.805378

4 December 2008 Reactive liquid crystal materials for optically anisotropic patterned retarders

Richard Harding, Iain Gardiner, Hyun-Jin Yoon, Tara Perrett, Owain Parri, Karl Skjonnemand

Proceedings Volume 7140, Lithography Asia 2008; 71402J (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.805378
Event: SPIE Lithography Asia - Taiwan, 2008, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

Merck has developed a range of reactive liquid crystal materials (Reactive Mesogens) that are designed to form thin, birefringent, coatable films for optical applications. Reactive Mesogen (RM) films are typically coated from solution and polymerized in-situ to form thin, optics-grade coatings. Merck RM materials are customized formulations including reactive liquid crystals, surfactants, photoinitiators and other proprietary additives. Merck have optimized the materials to achieve the optimum physical performance in each application. In this paper we focus on the optimization of RM materials to achieve the finest patterning resolution and defined feature shape whilst maintaining good physical properties of the films. Several conventional trade-offs are investigated and circumvented using novel material concepts. Different methods of patterning RM materials are discussed and the merits of each considered. Thermal annealing of non-polymerized regions can create isotropic islands within the polymerized anisotropic matrix. Alternatively, the non polymerized material can be re-dissolved in the coating solvent and rinsed away. Each of these techniques has benefits depending on the processing conditions and these are discussed in depth.

Citation Download Citation

Richard Harding, Iain Gardiner, Hyun-Jin Yoon, Tara Perrett, Owain Parri, and Karl Skjonnemand "Reactive liquid crystal materials for optically anisotropic patterned retarders", Proc. SPIE 7140, Lithography Asia 2008, 71402J (4 December 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.805378

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available