Glass, optical applications displays

In a second commercial antistatic application, PEDTPSS was used as the conductive ingredient in an outer surface antistatic layer on CRTs to avoid dust contamination during manufacture and use (Figure 10.7). In addition to the advantages described above, the PEDT PSS layer was found to enhance optical contrast in the displays. PEDT PSS antistatic layers for optical applications such as this require a low content of large particles, sufficient hardness, high adhesion on glass, and a surface resistance about 10 fl/sq. 

Some applications other than laser materials are the following luminescent materials for lighting, for display in cathode-ray tubes, and for X-ray radiography scintillator materials electroluminescent thin films glasses for solar concentrators colored materials for all types of applications (e.g., pigments). The greater part of these applications were reviewed in refs. 2 and 3. Optical centers can in many cases also be used as probes of the surroundings. 

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals are the next generation of display materials. Initial research has outlined the basic principles of their operation The PDLC films combine the properties of plastics and liquid crystals producing display devices impossible with conventional materials. They wfil be used in applications ranging from architectural glass to projection TV and optical computing. 

By far the largest application area of aligned liquid crystals is in Liqnid Crystal Displays (LCDs). In LCDs the LC material is sandwiched in between two glass plates with conducting layers indium-tin-oxide (ITO). Figure 9.1 shows the lay out of an LCD. Apart from the ITO covered glass plates and the LC material, the LCD consists of a st ick of various optical layers such as retarders, polariser, analyser, colour filter and a backlight. 

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