Two-phase systems which can be switched electrically between a light scatte
ring and a transparent state can be prepared based on either a dispersion o
f well-defined sub-micron sized crosslinked polymeric particles in a liquid
crystal (LC) matrix (Polymer Filled Nematics, PFN's) or on a dispersion of
palmitoyl-functionalised poly(propylene imine) dendrimers in an LC (Dendri
mer Filled Nematics). The present paper describes the preparation of both s
ystems and their properties. The PFN's can be electrically switched between
a scattering and a transparent state by an appropriate choice of materials
and refractive indices. The preparation of the disperse polymeric phase is
separated from the preparation of the polymer/LC blend, which enables cont
rol over the morphology of the system. Rather surprisingly, it is found tha
t, due to the rheological properties of the PFN blends, stable films of the
blends can be simply produced by conventional coating processes. The dendr
imer-stabilised nematics require extremely low switching voltages to switch
from a scattering to a highly transparent state. Moreover, the switching p
rocess is totally reversible and hysteresis effects appear to be absent.