Liquid Crystal Displays

By
Farrell Rogers
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
(MRSEC)
Interdisciplinary Education Group (IEG)
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
RET Program
Summer 2006
 NanoScience
Nanoscience involves the study and creation of materials,
devices, and systems through the manipulation of individual atoms
and molecules.
o Describes research where the characteristic dimension of 1 or
more plane is less than about 100 nanometers(.1 micron).
o Manufactured products are made from atoms. The properties of
those products depend on how those atoms are arranged.
o If we rearrange the atoms in….
o coal we get diamonds or graphite.
o sand (adding a few other trace elements) we get computer
chips.
o dirt, water and air we can make potatoes.

Unlike their larger or “macro” counterparts, nanoparticles often

display unique properties that may be of use for various
applications(Rattner & Rattner, 2003).
States of Matter
Solid
Liquid crystal
“fourth state of matter”

Liquid
Gas Images: MacDonald, R. “Liquid Crystals -
Fascinating State of Matter or "Soft is beautiful".
Accessed 7-2006
 What is a Liquid
Crystal?
Liquid Crystal – a stable phase of
matter characterized by anisotropic
properties without the existence of a
3-dimensional crystal lattice –
generally lying between the solid
and isotropic (“liquid”) phase.
Isotropic
Liquids and gases
(uniform properties in all
directions).

vs.
Anisotropic
Liquid Crystals
have orientational order
Liquid Crystal Phases
There are 2 basic phases
Nematic & Smectic

Anisotrpic substances
may go through one or several
Liquid Crystal Phases
Images from Sheffield Hallum University, United Kingdom, 2006
Liquid Crystal Model
Phase Transitions

Molecular Expressions, NHMFL-FSU( accessed, 2006.) http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu

 Project Goals
My Curriculum Research Project focused
on Liquid Crystal

 Explaining Liquid Crystals

 Explaining Polarization
 Adapting the LCD Watch Dissection for my students
 Designing a middle grade activity to
create a simple LCD Panel
 Activity #1
Introducing Liquid Crystals
After reading a brief history and
description of Liquid Crystals, students
will answer some questions and use
drawings to compare the 4 states of
matter.
I designed a questionaire for this
activity.
 Activity #1
Comparing Liquid Crystals
 Part II: Visualizing Liquid Crystals
 1-In the box below draw how the molecules of each
of the following phases might be arranged if you
could see them.
 Solid Phase LC Phase Liquid Gas
 Activity #2
Part 1: Polarized Light
This activity involved having kids explore
the properties of light using 2 polarized
lenses. They will compare light from an
CRT TV, LCD Screen and from an
incandescent bulb.
Activity #1 Pics
 Activity #2
Part 2: “To Twist or Not to
Twist, a Play of Polarization”
This is a student run Demo where
different kids play different roles to
demonstrate the parts of a Liquid Crystal
Display.

Image: How Stuff Works, 2006

 Activity #3
Adapting the LCD Watch Dissection

MRSEC/IEG already has an excellent lab for

this at
http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanolab/watch/ind
ex.html
The only thing I would add would be testing to
see if Dry Ice was cold enough to solidify the
LC and prevent the LCD Panel from
Functioning.
(Maybe Next Year? Please :o)
 Activity #4
Making a Liquid Crystal
Display
Everything seems easier once you figure it out.

I had a few obstacles such as…

Which LC, How much LC, How thick the
spacers should be, How much voltage, Do I
need an orientational polymer, How do I apply
the chemicals, etc.
 Materials
5CB Liquid Crystal Hot Plate
ITO Conducting Glass Alligator clamps
slides
Copper wire
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Saran Wrap
Polarized Lenses
Cotton Cloth
Capillary tube Pipettes
Tweezers
Binder Clamps
Q-tips
9V Battery
eyedropper
Glass Petri dishes
 LCD Alignment
Natural state

Sharp Technologies, Inc. 2006

When coming into contact with a finely grooved

surface (alignment layer), LC molecules line
up parallel along groove due to their rod-like
shape.
Coating ITO glass with a layer of PVA and rubbing
repeatedly creates these grooves.
 LCD Orientation

Sharp Technologies, Inc. 2006

The molecules along the upper plate point in direction

'a' and those along the lower plate in direction 'b,' thus
forcing the liquid crystals into a twisted structural
arrangement./ (figure shows a 90-degree twist) (TN
type liquid crystal)
 Unique Properties of Liquid
Crystals
The orientation of Liquid Crystals can be
affected by…

 Pressure
 Temperature
 Electrical Field

S. Palmer, LCTec Displays, Inc. 2005

 LCD Preparation

Checking the ITO Rubbing the PVA to Removing the PVA

Glass create an alignment at one edge
layer

Placing the Saran Applying the Liquid Placing the

Wrap Spacers Crystal Polarizers at 90°
The LCD Sandwich

Modified from S. Palmer, LCTec Displays, Inc. 2005

LCD Technology
Electrical-field
NOT Applied
Light IS transmitted

Electrical-field
IS Applied
Light NOT transmitted
 LCD Results

Electrical-field NOT Applied Electrical-field IS Applied

Light IS transmitted Light NOT transmitted
LCD In Action

pics\LCD13.
mov
 LCD Applications

The Nematic phase is most commonly

used in Liquid Crystal Displays
(LCD)
 Prior Knowledge
and Timing
LC’s can be discussed during any of the
following units:
– States of Matter/Phase Changes
– Properties of Light
– Electricity
Possibly make it a long term activity discussing
what an LC is during Matter, then doing the
Watch Dissection & LCD Fabrication during
the other Units?
 Standards Addressed
Science Language Arts
 Nature of Science
 History of Science
 Main Idea
 Variables and Experimentation  Using Context Clues
 Chemistry
 Matter
 Physical Science
 Waves
 Energy
 Electricity
 Technology & Society

These activities would be appropriate for Science

students in grades 8-12.
References:
1-Rudy, Lisa Jo. “Between the Boundaries of the Known
References
The Molecular World between Solid and Liquid”. Copyright ©2004 University of Pennsylvania. School of Arts and Sciences Updated September 1, 2004.
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/sasalum/newsltr/spring04/between_boundries.html
Accesses 6-25-2006
2-How Stuff Works. Building Your Own LCD. July 2006.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lcd4.htm
Accesses 6-25-2006
3- The University of Wisconsin. Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)-
Interdisciplinary Education Group (IEG)
Engineering Centers Building
http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanolab/index.html
Accesses 6-25-2006
4-Ratner, M. & Ratner, D. Nanotechnology, A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea, 2003. Pearson Education, Inc.
5- Kent State University. Liquid Crystal Institute,
http://www.lci.kent.edu/
Accessed 7-6-2006
6- Macdonald, R., “Liquid Crystals - Fascinating State of Matter or "Soft is beautiful". Optical Institute of the Technical University of Berlin
  Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Accessed 7-6-2006
7-Touch Screen info
http://www.reedlink.com/ProductInfo~Productid~142231~ProductName~Touch-Screen-Displays.html
Accesses 7-6-2006
8-Universität Hamburg Liquid Crystal Database
http://liqcryst.chemie.uni-hamburg.de/lcionline/liqcryst/lchistory/topics/c13b5.html
Accesses 7-6-2006
9-Waclawik, Eric R. “Liquid-Crystal Displays: Fabrication and Measurement of a Twisted Nemetic Liquid Crystal Cell”. Journal of Chem. Engineering 81, no. 6,
(2004) 854-858.
10-Ondris-Crawford, R., Crawford, G.P., and Doane, J.W. “Liquid-Crystals, Phases of the Future”. The Physics Teacher 30, Sept. (2004) 332-339.
11-Sadlej-Sosnowska, Nina. “Imposed Orientation of Dye Molecules by Liquid Crystals and an Electric Field”. Journal of Chem. Ed. 57, no. 3 (1980) 223-224.
12-Daigle, Stephen M.. “Investigating the Bistibility of 4’-octyl-4-Biphenylcarbonitrile”. Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University (July 2004).
http://clcse.lci.kent.edu/students.htm
Accesses 7-12-2006
13- Sharp Technologies, Inc
1. The Principles of LCD Technology
http://sharp-world.com/sc/library/lcd_e/s2_1_1e.htm
Accesses 7-12-2006
 Thank you
 Wendy Crone, Ph.D.: MRSEC Director of Education, University of Wisconsin
 Greta Zenner, Ph.D.: MRSEC Assistant Director of Education, University of
Wisconsin
 MRSEC-RET program
 Dana Horoszewski , Ph.D.: IEG Mentor
 Ken Gentry, Ph.D.: IEG Mentor
 Dr. George Lisensky, Ph.D.: IEG Mentor, Professor of Chemistry, Beloit College
 University of Wisconsin
 NSF, Research Experiences for Teachers(RET Programs)

"We are grateful to the National Science Foundation

through the Materials Research Science and
Engineering Center (MRSEC) on Nanostructured
Interfaces (DMR-0079983 and DMR-0520527) at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison”