Polarized emission from liquid crystal polymers

Liquid crystalline conjugated polymers have potential applications as inexp ensive, easy to process polarized back lights for liquid crystal displays. Three 'Hairy rod' type conjugated polymers, namely Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene ) [PFO] and two alternating co-polymers with benzothiadiazole and dithiophe ne moieties in the mainchain, have been investigated. In this paper, we pre sent polarized absorption and photoluminescence for films aligned on rubbed polyimide [PI] alignment layers. We also report electroluminescence measur ements for oriented multilayer devices with rubbed hole transporting alignm ent layers [HTAL]. Sample preparation, device fabrication and characterisat ion are discussed and a preview of future work is given. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.