The University of Hull

Stephen Malcolm Kelly

Mary O'Neill

Adam Edward Alexander Contoret

Gary James Richards

David Coates

Stuart Paul Kitney

Miguel Angel Carrasco-Orozo

Fei Cheng

John Stewart Bradley

Mary O'neill

The invention provides a photopolymerisable or photocrosslinkable reactive mesogen for forming a charge transporting or light emitting polymer network, the mesogen having an asymmetric structure (II): B-S-A-M-(A-S-B)(II) wherein: A and Aare chromophores; S and Sare spacers; B and Bare endgroups which are susceptible to photopolymerisation or photocrosslinking; M is a non-chromophoric aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic moiety; and n is an integer from 1 to 3; wherein, when the value of n is greater than 1, each of the groups A, S and B may be the same or different. Preferably, M is of the formula Y&#x2212;Z, wherein Y is an aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic or heterocyclic moiety, Z is an aliphatic linking group and m is an integer from 2 to 4, and wherein each of the Z groups may be the same or different. The invention also provides a material for forming a light emitting or charge transporting polymer network comprising the photopolymerisable or photocrosslinkable reactive mesogen, a charge transporting or light emitting polymer network which is obtained by polymerisation or crosslinking of the mesogen, a process for the preparation of the polymer via photopolymerisation or photocrosslinking of suitable end-groups of the mesogen, a device comprising a polymer layer formed from the charge transporting or light emitting polymer network, a process for applying a charge transporting or light emitting polymer network to a surface and a backlight or display comprising a charge transporting or light emitting polymernetwork.

Polymer networks

A photovoltaic cell is provided. The photovoltaic cell can be an interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network. Reactive mesogens of the formula B-S-A-S-B wherein A is a chromophore, S is a spacer and B is an end group susceptible to polymerization are used in the manufacture of the interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network.

Liquid crystalline interpenetrating polymer networks

There is provided a process for forming a light emitting polymer comprising photopolymerization of a reactive mesogen having an endgroup which is susceptible to photopolymerization e.g. by a radical polymerization process. Also provided are methods for using the light emitter in displays, backlights, electronic apparatus and security viewers.

Light emitting polymer

There is provided a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising an alignment layer; and chemically bound to said alignment layer, a transport material. Also provided are methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer and the use thereof in displays for electronic apparatus.

Liquid crystal alignment layer

There is provided a light emitter for a display comprising a photoalignment layer; and photoaligned on said photoalignment layer, a light emitting polymer. Also provided are methods for forming the light emitter and the use of the light emitter in displays, backlights, electronic apparatus and security viewers.

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Beverly, United Kingdom

Stephen Malcolm Kelly