Polarized emission from liquid crystal polymers

Liquid crystalline conjugated polymers have potential applications as inexpensive, 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 dithiophene moieties in the mainchain, have been investigated. In this paper, we present polarized absorption and photoluminescence for films aligned on rubbed polyimide [PI] alignment layers. We also report electroluminescence measurements for oriented multilayer devices with rubbed hole transporting alignment layers [HTAL]. Sample preparation, device fabrication and characterisation are discussed and a preview of future work is given.