A novel thin film polarizer from photocurable non-aqueous lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal solutions

We report a novel thin film polarizer fabricated from a photocurable lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (LCLC) solution. An organic-based photocurable solution having a lyotropic liquid crystalline phase was prepared by dissolving 25-35 wt% of basic chromonic dye in an acidic monomer (acrylic acid) solution. The shear-coated film after UV irradiation exhibited the maximum polarization efficiency, P=95.2%. Compared to the conventional aqueous-based technique, the new method provided many advantages such as outstanding coating processibility, high thermal stability, good solvent resistance, moderate surface hardness, and excellent adhesion to various substrates, especially on a plastic substrate.