Optical texture overview

We have described lattice spin models for the simulation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. The biggest advantage of Monte Carlo simulations is the possibility of investigating the system at a microscopic level, and to calculate thermodynamic properties and their specific order parameters suitable for different types of PDLC. Molecular organizations can be investigated by calculating the order parameters point by point across the droplet. Moreover, it is possible to calculate experimental observables like optical textures and, as discussed here, NMR line shapes. We have given an overview of the method and some applications to models of PDLC with radial and bipolar boundary conditions, and considered the effect of orientational and translational diffusion on the spectra. We have examined in particular under what conditions the NMR spectra of the deuterated nematic can provide reliable information on the actual boundaries present in these submicron size droplets. 

Critical properties of TCO coatings are electrical resistance and transparency [3], but for solar cell applications very often texture and large haze factors, i.e., ratio of diffuse to total transmission, have similar importance. Large haze factors have been shown to influence positively the efficiency of silicon solar cells, because the reflection at the TCO-silicon interface is reduced and the scattering increases the pathway of light inside the active material. The preparation and characteristics of several TCO materials have been reviewed by Chopra et al. [92] and Dawar and Joshi [93]. The optical and electrical properties of ITO and aluminum doped zinc oxide have been studied in detail by Granqvist and coworkers [94, 95], but these films were prepared by sputtering and not by CVD. Very recently they also published an overview of transparent conductive electrodes for electrochromic devices [7]. 

Fig. 5.39 Optical micrographs of polyacetal section show a spherulitic texture in polarized light. An overview of the outer mold region shows a birefringent skin (top) and an unoriented spherulitic core (A). Between the skin and core is a transition zone composed of spherulites with parabolic boundaries (B). Spherulites which are polygonal in shape due to impinging one another are seen in the core (C).

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