Advances in Liquid Crystal Materials (Technical Insights)

Published by: Frost & Sullivan

Published: Mar. 31, 2007 - 80 Pages

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

1. Scope and Methodology

1. Scope

2. Methodology

2. Overview and Key Research Highlights

1. Overview

2. Key Research Highlights

2. Technology Overview

1. Technology Primer

1. Liquid Crystals--An Introduction

2. Liquid Crystal Phases

2. Key Applications

1. Key Applications of Liquid Crystals

2. Key Applications for PLCs

3. Noteworthy Research in Liquid Crystals

1. Universities

1. Nanoporous LCP Materials Developed--USA

2. Understanding the Process by which the Liquid Crystals Align at a Surface--USA

3. Holographically Formed Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals--USA

4. Study of Liquid Crystal and Substrate Interface on the Nanoscale--Japan

5. Liquid Crystal Polymers for Space Applications--USA

6. Structure Property Relation for Azo-Dye-Doped LC--Romania

7. Computations for Liquid Crystals--Italy

8. Self-Alignment of Water Droplets in Nematic Liquid Crystals--France

9. System Exhibits Compatibility with Different Lasers with Varying Wavelengths--Turkey

2. Companies

1. Liquid Crystal Materials for LCD TVs from Merck--Germany

2. Liquid Crystal Developments at Dainippon Ink--Japan

3. A New Type of LCP for Industrial and Consumer Cooking and Baking--Germany

4. LCP Substrates for Microfluidics Applications--Switzerland

4. Assessment of Technology Adoption Factors

1. Technology Drivers and Challenges

1. Technology Drivers

2. Technology Challenges

2. Assessment of Regulations

1. Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of LCs

2. Display Disposal Dilemma

3. Nano Regulations

5. Industry Analysis

1. SWOT Analysis

1. Overview

2. SWOT Analysis of Liquid Crystals

2. Road to Commercialization

1. Research Directions

2. Bridging Basic Research and Commercialization

6. Patents and Key Contacts

1. Recent Patents

1. US Patents

2. Rest-of-the-World Patents

2. Key Contacts

1. Universities

2. Corporate

7. Decision Support Database

1. Database Tables

1. Global Laptop Sales (2002-2012)

2. Global LCD Sales (2002-2012)

3. TV Installed Base (1999-2006)

4. Global TV Sales (2002-2012)

5. Consumer Electronic Contribution to Electronics Industry (1999-2006)

Abstract

The Frost & Sullivan research service titled Advances in Liquid Crystal Materials provides an overview of the emerging trends in the liquid crystal materials landscape, involving the key drivers, challenges, restraints, and the analysis of adoption trends. In this research service, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine new liquid crystal materials, study of defects, liquid crystal manufacture, and search for new applications.

Technology Overview

Needs of New Applications Drives Developments

Liquid crystal technology is widely prevalent, with liquid crystal displays (LCDs) being used in calculators, watches, telephones, radios, and car dashboards, and larger, full-color displays in laptop computer screens and LC-TV sets. However, researchers consider the above-mentioned applications as only the tip of the iceberg, as the range of possibilities offered by these versatile materials is still being researched extensively for use in novel applications. This search for new applications as well as technological improvements is driving further advances in the field of liquid crystal materials. In the future, manufacture of low-power displays without backlights, paper-like displays, head-mounted displays, and large flat displays is likely to offer opportunities for liquid crystal materials. Moreover, liquid crystal material manufacturers are also exploring the possibility of using these materials for non-display applications; however, they have not yet proved to be commercially viable.

"When it comes to liquid crystal research, we find that there is a lot of research related to the development of new materials for liquid-crystal mixtures and alignment layers with improved lifetime for projection LCDs, faster liquid-crystal materials to improve video performance, chemical synthesis and physical properties of new liquid crystalline materials, liquid crystal polymers and elastomers, composite systems with liquid crystalline components, study of topological defects and patterns, and so on," says the analyst Archana Jayarajah. "However, much of this research remains confined to laboratories and it is essential to have the entire path charted out in order to translate them into technology/product demonstration, and eventually, mass production."

Global Regulations Driving Recycling of Devices

Globally, new regulations such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive may require changes in the environmental requirements on the sale and recycling of consumer goods. In the future, requirements are expected to become more stringent, and recycling costs may increase. Thus, researchers are not only involved in the research of numerous self-organizing and self-assembling materials that exhibit liquid crystal behavior, but also on the recycling of devices. There exists a need to aid the recycling process via the development of smart de-manufacturing processes so that maximum use can be made of all the components, even down to the level of coatings and films. In the case of LCDs, research groups are examining methods of decommissioning devices so that they can be easily de-manufactured, thereby yielding easy access to the component parts of the device, down to the liquid crystal mixture itself. Further, researchers are also hoping to re-use the LC formulation in a re-manufacturing process that could lead to new applications.

"Although many new techniques are being developed at the Academic level that offer benefits over existing systems, researchers do not expect a change in the way the current generation of laptop screens and televisions are fabricated", observes Jayarajah. "This is because existing manufacturing processes are mature and changing them probably cannot be justified economically. In a field where technology is evolving, it becomes highly essential that new technologies can be integrated with the existing systems so that the cost of a switchover to a new technology for the manufacturers would be minimum. Adoption of a new technology is quicker when the adoption costs involved are less," adds the analyst.

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