Nanocapsules with Liquid-Crystalline Medium for Electro-Optical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for nanocapsules with improved electro-optical and physical properties, particularly for use in electro-optical devices, that offer ease of fabrication and stability, with high dielectric anisotropy, low rotational viscosity, and broad liquid crystal phase ranges, while being insensitive to external forces and having low melting points and high voltage holding ratios.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a mesogenic medium, polymerizable compounds, and surfactants is used to create nanocapsules through in situ polymerization, allowing for the formation of nanocapsules with a polymeric shell encapsulating liquid crystal material, which provides enhanced electro-optical properties and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional encapsulation methods are used, then fabrication is relatively simple, but the nanocapsules lack improved electro-optical properties and stability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidease of fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining polymerizable compounds with surfactants to form a polymeric shell that encapsulates the liquid crystal composition. This composite structure provides both mechanical stability and protective encapsulation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture through a unified material system that delivers both properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the encapsulation system by using polymerizable compounds that undergo phase change during polymerization. This transformation allows the system to evolve from a simple mixture to a stable polymeric encapsulation structure, achieving both improved stability and maintained ease of fabrication through controlled parameter changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If nanocapsules are designed for high dielectric anisotropy and low rotational viscosity, then electro-optical performance improves, but fabrication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectro-optical performanceVSAvoidfabrication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fabrication process into distinct functional components: the liquid crystal composition with specific dielectric and viscosity properties, the polymerizable compounds for shell formation, and surfactants for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for electro-optical performance while simplifying the overall fabrication approach through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If polymeric shell is formed through in situ polymerization, then encapsulation stability improves, but process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveencapsulation stabilityVSAvoidprocess time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing the polymerizable compounds and surfactants with the liquid crystal composition before initiating polymerization. This preliminary preparation ensures uniform distribution of encapsulation materials, allowing the in situ polymerization to proceed efficiently and form stable polymeric shells without excessive process time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If nanocapsules are made insensitive to external forces, then device reliability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsensitivity to external forcesVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible polymeric shells formed from polymerizable compounds that can accommodate external forces through elastic deformation. This flexible encapsulation protects the liquid crystal composition from mechanical stress and external forces while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard polymerization processes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 resulting nanocapsules exhibit improved electro-optical performance, including high dielectric anisotropy, low rotational viscosity, and broad liquid crystal phase ranges, with stability and insensitivity to external forces, enabling efficient light modulation and flexible device operation.

Implementation Method 1

A composition comprising a mesogenic medium, polymerizable compounds, and surfactants is used to create nanocapsules through in situ polymerization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

A composition comprising a mesogenic medium, polymerizable compounds, and surfactants is used to create nanocapsules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP3443050B1Composition for nanoencapsulation and nanocapsules comprising a liquid-crystalline medium

Publication Date: 2020.01.29 MERCK PATENT GMBH

AI summary

The present invention relates to compositions for nanoencapsulation which comprise the mesogenic medium as set forth in claim 1, one or more polymerizable compounds and one or more surfactants, to nanocapsules containing the mesogenic medium and to their use in electro-optical devices.