Polarized electroluminescence from liquid crystalline polymers

Polymer liquid crystalline materials display unique properties that can be exploited in organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Characteristic features are the anisotropy of electronic properties as well as a tendency to form s pontaneously homogeneous monodomain films. It is found that liquid crystall ine polymers can be used in LEDs to control the state of polarization of th e emitted light. A linearly polarized or circularly polarized emission can be achieved depending on the intrinsic structure of the liquid crystalline material and on the corresponding optical properties. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence S.A. All rights reserved.