Method of producing optical element by patterning liquid crystal films

Abstract

A radiation-curing liquid crystal having cholesteric regularity is applied to a glass substrateprovided with an alignment layerto form a first cholesteric liquid crystal filmin the uncured state (FIG.()). Radiationis then selectively applied, through a photomask, to the desired portions of the first cholesteric liquid crystal filmto partially cure it (FIG.()); thereafter, the first cholesteric liquid crystal filmis immersed in an organic solventto remove the uncured portionsthereof (FIG.()), thereby forming the first cholesteric liquid crystal filmin a desired pattern (FIG.()). Then, in the same manner as described above, a radiation-curing liquid crystal having cholesteric regularity is applied to the surface of the formed first cholesteric liquid crystal filmand the alignment layerto form a second cholesteric liquid crystal film' in the uncured state (FIG.()). To the second cholesteric liquid crystal film′, application of radiation(FIG.()) and immersion in an organic solvent(FIG.()) are carried out to remove the uncured portions′ thereof (FIG.()), thereby producing an optical elementhaving the cholesteric liquid crystal filmsand′ in desired patterns (FIG.()).