SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop polymer dopants that expedite processing and increase yield of well aligned VA (Vertically aligned) nematic cells in order to improve large area LCD display technology: Polymer-stabilized vertically aligned nematic (VAN) LCDs for HDTV. The nematic-polymer mixtures will be optimized to establish reliable processes to produce well aligned, fast switching cells in high yield that can be used in displays and other EO devices benefiting from PS-VA remarkably fast switching speed. The LCD flat panel display market has been growing at a steady rate, even in the midst of the economic downturn. The additives developed in this project would replace the currently used reactive monomers and UV processing step, significantly reducing the cost and improving lifetime while retaining the excellent speed advantages of the PS-VA display

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a new type of process to improve the quality and reduce the cost of large liquid crystal displays (LCDs), particularly those used for energy efficient high-definition televisions. Rather than the existing approaches that synthesize a polymer inside the display, this research examines polymers synthesized and purified outside of the display. Side-group liquid crystal polymers (SGLCPs) will be developed that can be used at low concentration as dopants in the liquid crystal mixture that is the active medium in the LCD. Chemical variations on the successful SGLCPs discovered in Phase I will establish molecular-level understanding of the mechanism of the beneficial effects of the dopant. Effects of the dopants on processing behavior (e.g., the process of filling the flat panel) and ultimate performance will be characterized; the results will guide industrial implementation of the dopants. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project on new polymer dopants include improved performance of LCD-TVs, especially in the rapidly growing HDTV segment. Liquid crystal displays are widely used in televisions due to their low operating voltage, low power consumption and thin form factor. Polymer additives will be developed that increase the switching speed, enhance the brightness, improve the viewing angle and maintain the excellent dark state and high contrast that are the hallmarks of vertically-aligned nematic liquid crystal displays (VAN-LCDs). The potential revenues of these compounds could reach $100 million annually within a few years. Scientifically, polymer dopants in LCs represent an entirely new field of science and technology. Finally, this collaborative research will involve a combination of microsynthesis, polymer and LC physical properties and LC display fabrication that will confer upon its principals a comprehensive perspective on the transition of discoveries into competitive product offerings