Aggregation states and electro-optical properties of the induced smectic phase by mixing a nematic liquid crystalline polymer and a low molecular weight liquid crystal

Aggregation states and electro-optical properties of a binary mixture by mixing a nematic side chain type liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and a nematic low molecular weight liquid crystal (LC) have been studied. The nematic LC with a strong polar terminal group was miscible with the nematic LCP having a weak polar terminal group. The binary mixture showed an induced smectic phase over a wide range of mixing concentrations and temperature. The reversible turbid (light scattering)-transparent change was observed upon application of electric fields with low and high frequencies, respectively. Both transparent and turbid states of the binary mixture could be maintained stably even when the electric field was turned off (bistable and reversible light switching). A novel type of electro-optical effect based on light scattering was obtained for the mixture in the induced smectic state.