Molecular imprinting in polymer stabilized liquid crystals

An initial investigation on the probability of molecular imprinting on poly mer stabilized liquid crystal systems is presented. In this study, no align ment layer was used and traditional molecular imprinting monomers- vinyl py rridine and methyl methacrylic acid - were mixed with nematic and chiral-ne matic LCs. Initial electro-optic measurement show that the transmittance be havior of the films is dependent on the interaction between the LC and the polymer. For the nematic set, the scattering and transparent state is due t o the orientation of the LC molecules anchored at the I-C-polymer interface . For the chiral set, the stabilization of the textures leading to a scatte ring or transparent state is again due to the anchoring of the polymer on t he LC molecules around it.