Development of liquid crystal displays and related improvements to their performances.

This review article comprises three contents: 1) a general introduction of liquid crystals (LCs) and their chronological developments until their current status, 2) the descriptions of the achievements of defect-free and optically high-quality LC displays (LCDs), and 3) the description of the new and alternative methods for improving existing LCD technologies in terms of high-speed response, viewing angles, and power consumption through nanoparticle doping and optical compensation on a laboratory level. When these technologies are successfully developed, they will be used in the industry, where the fabrication process will be performed in a large-clean room using automated robotics.

Zirconia nanocolloids having a nanospace of poly(cyclodextrin): preparation and application to liquid crystal devices.

Poly(gamma-cyclodextrin) (PgammaCyD)-protected ZrO2 nanocolloids were prepared by using a microwave reactor equipped with ultrasonic nozzle mixing at 240 degrees C for 30 min in a tetraethylene glycol solution of zirconium (IV) ethoxide in the presence of poly(gamma-cyclodextrin). Particles in PgammaCyD-protected ZrO2 nanocolloids have an average diameter of 7.2 nm and mainly distribute within the range of about 3 to 10 nm. The nanocolloids were dispersed in 4'-pentylbiphenyl-4-carbonitrile (5CB) and practical liquid crystal to construct novel twisted nematic liquid crystal devices (TN-LCDs). The response time of this TN-LCDs in the presence of PgammaCyD-protected ZrO2 nanocolloids was faster than that in the absence. The threshold voltage of TN-LCDs by doping PgammaCyD-protected ZrO2 nanocolloids decreased. The decrease of threshold voltage can reduce power consumption, which may meet the demands of future power-saving LCDs.