Thin Film Polarizers Based on Lyotropic Liquid Crystals and Photoanisotropic Materials: Properties and Technologies

Abstract

The review of patents and scientific papers presents technology and properties of thin film (of few µm thickness) linear and circular polarizers as well as patterned optical polarization structures based on different physical effects (absorption dichroism, anisotropic luminescence, birefringence, reflection and scattering). Vari-ous substances are used for this purpose: lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals, photoanisotropic materials, anisotropic scattering or anisotropic fluorescent materials and other media. The greatest interest from the practical application point of view for displays and elements for information protection are polarizers and patterned structures based on lyotropic liquid crystals as well as photoanisotropic materials based on photochemically stable substances and anisotropic luminescence media.