Polarization analysis of nanostructured chiral LC composites

The polarization analyses of the isotropic nanostructured LC composites, which is a promising candidate of next-generation LCD material, were performed to investigate the residual birefringence after application of an electric field. The composites showed negative, positive and nearly zero in azimuth angle of optical rotation for the chiral nematic phase, the induced isotropic phase and the isotropic phase, respectively. When the residual birefringence occurred, the optical rotatory of the isotropic nanostructured LC composites exhibited slightly negative. It is suggested that the primary cause of the residual birefringence is the electric field-induced phase transition to the chiral nematic phase.