Liquid Crystal Composition for Alignment-Free Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal displays without alignment films face challenges in achieving uniform and stable alignment of liquid crystal molecules, leading to uneven displays, despite enhanced light transmittance and response speed.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal composition comprising specific monofunctional and multifunctional compounds, defined by particular chemical formulas, which promote excellent vertical alignment and are suitable for use in liquid crystal displays without alignment films.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If alignment films are omitted to simplify the process and reduce cost, then light transmittance and response speed are improved, but uniform and stable alignment of liquid crystal molecules cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the alignment film layer from the liquid crystal display structure, extracting this component entirely. The liquid crystal composition itself is engineered to provide alignment functionality through polymerizable compounds that form alignment-inducing structures when irradiated with active energy rays, replacing the traditional alignment film's function without requiring its physical presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polymerizable compounds as intermediaries between the liquid crystal molecules and the substrate. These compounds, when polymerized, create a surface structure that mediates the alignment of liquid crystal molecules, providing the necessary alignment function that would otherwise require an alignment film. The polymerized compounds act as a mediator that transfers alignment information from the substrate to the liquid crystal molecules.
2Illumination intensity
If alignment films are omitted, then light transmittance is enhanced, but uneven display problems occur due to poor alignment stability
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment film is completely removed from the display structure, eliminating the interface between the alignment film and liquid crystal that causes light loss. This extraction of the alignment film layer directly improves light transmittance while the patent compensates for alignment stability through the polymerizable compound mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and physical parameters of the liquid crystal composition by incorporating polymerizable compounds with specific molecular structures and reactivity. These parameter changes enable the composition to undergo photo-polymerization, creating a stable alignment structure that maintains reliability without requiring an alignment film.
3Device complexity
If polymerizable compounds are added to achieve alignment without alignment films, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the stability of polymerization and alignment uniformity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite liquid crystal composition by combining liquid crystal molecules with polymerizable compounds in specific ratios. This composite material integrates the alignment-inducing properties of polymerized structures with the liquid crystalline properties, achieving both structural simplification and alignment uniformity through the synergistic combination of different molecular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls the concentration parameters of polymerizable compounds within specific ranges (0.01-10 wt%) to optimize the balance between polymerization stability and alignment uniformity. By adjusting this critical parameter, the patent achieves sufficient polymerization for stable alignment while preventing excessive polymerization that would cause uneven display and maintain alignment uniformity across the substrate.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition ensures satisfactory vertical alignment and superior voltage holding ratio, addressing the issue of uneven displays and improving the performance of liquid crystal displays without alignment films.
Implementation Method 1
applying a voltage between electrodes and irradiating active energy rays to the liquid crystal composition so as to subject the polymerizable compound to polymerization
Implementation Method 2
the liquid crystal compositions are usually required to have a high absolute value of dielectric anisotropy (Δε)
Implementation Method 3
the value of the optical anisotropy (Δn) of the liquid crystal compositions is required to be adjusted
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal composition includes at least one of a monofunctional compound represented by Formula (1) defined herein and a monofunctional compound represented by Formula (2) defined herein, and at least one of a difunctional compound represented by Formula (3) defined herein and a multifunctional compound represented by Formula (4) defined herein.