Improving the voltage response of holographically-formed polymer dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs)

We report a significant improvement in the switching voltage of holographic PDLCs. This is achieved by doping the prepolymer with small amounts of organic surfactants. The effect of these dopants on other important H-PDLC performance parameters is also investigated. Possible explanations for the reduction in switching voltage are discussed in relation to simple phenomenological switching models.