Liquid Crystalline Semiconductors

This is an exciting stage in the development of organic electronics. It is no longer an area of purely academic interest as increasingly real applications are being developed, some of which are beginning to come on-stream. Areas that have already been commercially developed or which are under intensive development include organic light emitting diodes (for flat panel displays and solid state lighting), organic photovoltaic cells, organic thin film transistors (for smart tags and flat panel displays) and sensors. Within the family of organic electronic materials, liquid crystals are relative newcomers. The first electronically conducting liquid crystals were reported in 1988 but already a substantial literature has developed. The advantage of liquid crystalline semiconductors is that they have the easy processability of amorphous and polymeric semiconductors but they usually have higher charge carrier mobilities. Their mobilities do not reach the levels seen in crystalline organics but they circumvent all of the difficult issues of controlling crystal growth and morphology. Liquid crystals self-organise, they can be aligned by fields and surface forces and, because of their fluid nature, defects in liquid crystal structures readily self-heal. With these matters in mind this is an opportune moment to bring together a volume on the subject of ‘Liquid Crystalline Semiconductors’. The field is already too large to cover in a comprehensive manner so the aim has been to bring together contributions from leading researchers which cover the main areas of the chemistry (synthesis and structure/function relationships), physics (charge transport mechanisms and optical properties) and potential applications in photovoltaics, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). This book will provide a useful introduction to the field for those in both industry and academia and it is hoped that it will help to stimulate future developments.

This book focuses on the exciting topic on self-organized organic semiconductors – from materials to device applications. It offers up-to-date and accessible coverage of self-organized semiconductors for organic chemistry, polymer science, liquid crystals, materials science, material engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, optics, optic-electronics, nanotechnology and semiconductors. Chapters cover chemistry, physics, processing, and characterization. The applications include photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and transistors.

This book presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. It contains short and concise reports, each written by the world's renowned experts. Still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years, more information as well as the electronic version of the whole content is available at: springerlink.com.

An unprecedented look into the basic physics, chemistry, and technology behind the LCD Most notably used for computer screens, televisions, and mobile phones, LCDs (liquid crystal displays) are a pervasive and increasingly indispensable part of our lives. Providing both an historical and a business-minded context, this extensive resource describes the unique scientific and engineering techniques used to create these beautiful, clever, and eminently useful devices. In this book, the history of the science and technology behind the LCD is described in a prelude to the development of the device, presenting a rational development theme and pinpointing innovations. The book begins with Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism, and the ultimately profound realization that light is an electromagnetic wave and an electromagnetic wave is light. The power of mathematical physics thus was brought to bear upon the study of light, and particularly the polarization of light by material bodies, including liquid crystals. After a brief historical description of polarization, a physical interpretation provides substance to the mathematical concepts. Subsequent chapters cover: Thermodynamics for liquid crystals The Maier-Saupe mean field, phenomenological, static continuum, and dynamic continuum theories The transistor and integrated circuit Glass, panels, and modules The calculus of variations The active matrix Semiconductor fabrication The global LCD business Additionally, the book illustrates how mathematics, physics, and chemistry are put to practical use in the LCDs we use every day. By describing the science from an historical perspective and in practical terms in the context of a device very familiar to readers, the book presents an engaging and unique view of the technology for everyone from science students to engineers, product designers, and indeed anyone curious about LCDs. Series Editor: Anthony C. Lowe, The Lambent Consultancy, Braishfield, UK The Society for Information Display (SID) is an international society, which has the aim of encouraging the development of all aspects of the field of information display. Complementary to the aims of the society, the Wiley-SID series is intended to explain the latest developments in information display technology at a professional level. The broad scope of the series addresses all facets of information displays from technical aspects through systems and prototypes to standards and ergonomics.

Solid state physics after solving so successfully many fundamental problems in perfect or slightly imperfect crystals, tried in recent years to attack problems associated with large disorder with the aim to understand the consequences of the lack of the long-range order. Semiconductors are much more changed by disorder than metals or insulators, and appear to be the most suitable materials for fundamental work. Considerable exploratory work on amorphous and liquid semiconductors was done by the Leningrad School since the early fifties. In recent years, much research in several countries was directed to deepen the understanding of the structural, electronic, optical, vibrational, magnetic and other proper ties of these materials and to possibly approach the present level of under standing of crystalline semiconductors. This effort was stimulated not only by purely scientific interest but also by the possibility of new applications from which memory devices in the general sense are perhaps the most challenging. The research met with serious difficulties which are absent in crystals.

Liquid Crystals, Laptops and Life connects the laptop computer with life itself via liquid crystals, the phases of matter essential to both. In the process it provides an integrated introduction to those parts of chemistry and physics that are necessary for understanding the basic science and technology embedded in the laptop and in life. This book can be understood by students with a good background in high school chemistry and physics; yet it can also serve as a primer for scientists who are not well versed in the areas covered. The first section of the book is devoted to discussion of basic concepts of chemistry and physics. The second section applies these concepts and extends them to three classes of materials that make the laptop possible: liquid crystals, polymers, and semiconductors. The first two classes of materials relate naturally to the molecules essential to life, thus providing an introduction to this area in an independent chapter. The third section focuses on the applied science and technology of semiconductors, digital devices, and computers, as well as liquid crystal displays. This section concludes by illustrating how these materials and technologies are combined in and make possible the laptop computer. The final section discusses applications of liquid crystals to the arts and to life. Each chapter rounds off with references to more advanced literature, exercises that test the reader's understanding, and open-ended questions that encourage the reader to explore the topics in greater depth.

The book deals with the following topics:- History of LCD: milestone, state-of-the-art and future directions; In-plane switching technology; Fringe-field switching technology; Vertically aligned liquid crystal display; Evolving LCD-TV technology; Picture performance evolution for the high dynamic range era; TFT-LCD and AMOLED display technology comparisons; Automotive displays; Requirements for automotive displays; The world's largest curved LCD; Optical design of flexible liquid crystal displays; Flexible LCD; Film substrate for flexible devices; Thin film transistors for active-matrix LCDs; Ultrahigh-resolution LCDs with oxide semiconductor TFTs; Oxide semiconductors for display applications; Liquid crystalline organic semiconductors; Liquid crystal materials; Quantum dot technology and its applications; and Backlighting unit optics: optical micro-reflectors and micro-deflectors for functional light-guide plate.

The chemistry, physics, and applications of liquid crystals beyond LCDs Liquid Crystals (LCs) combine order and mobility on a molecular and supramolecular level. But while these remarkable states of matter are most commonly associated with visual display technologies, they have important applications for a variety of other fields as well. Liquid Crystals Beyond Displays: Chemistry, Physics, and Applications considers these, bringing together cutting-edge research from some of the most promising areas of LC science. Featuring contributions from respected researchers from around the globe, this edited volume emphasizes the chemistry, physics, and applications of LCs in areas such as photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, filed-effect transistors, lasers, molecular motors, nanophotonics and biosensors. Specific chapters look at magnetic LCs, lyotropic chromonic LCs, LC-based chemical sensors, LCs in metamaterials, and much more. Introducing readers to the fundamentals of LC science through the use of illustrative examples, Liquid Crystals Beyond Displays covers not only the most recent research in the myriad areas in which LCs are being utilized, but also looks ahead, addressing potential future developments. Designed for physicists, chemists, engineers, and biologists working in academia or industry, as well as graduate students specializing in LC technology, this is the first book to consider LC applications across a wide range of fields.