# US 11,370,914 B2 · Methods of forming polymeric polarizers from lyotropic liquid crystals and polymeric polarizers formed thereby

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- Number: US 11,370,914 B2
- Document ID: US11370914B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/519,423
- Filed: 2019-07-23
- Published: 2020-01-30
- Granted: 2022-06-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-24
- Assignees: Light Polymers Holding
- Applicants: Light Polymers Holding
- Inventors: Valeriy Kuzmin; Evgeny Morozov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11370914B2

## CPC

- C08G 69/32: from aromatic diamines and aromatic dicarboxylic acids with both amino and carboxylic groups aromatically bound
- C08L 77/10: Polyamides derived from aromatically bound amino and carboxyl groups of amino-carboxylic acids or of polyamines and polycarboxylic acids
- C08G 69/42: Polyamides containing atoms other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (C08G69/12, C08G69/32 take precedence)
- C09D 177/10: Polyamides derived from aromatically bound amino and carboxyl groups of amino carboxylic acids or of polyamines and polycarboxylic acids
- G02B 5/3016: {involving passive liquid crystal elements (optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528)}
- G02B 5/3083: {Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001)}
- G02F 1/133528: {Polarisers}
- G02F 1/13363: Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
- B05D 5/06: to obtain multicolour or other optical effects (B05D5/02 takes precedence)
- B32B 2457/20: Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
- B32B 2457/206: Organic displays, e.g. OLED
- B32B 2457/208: Touch screens
- C08L 2203/20: use in electrical or conductive gadgets
- C09K 2323/00: Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
- C09K 2323/03: Viewing layer characterised by chemical composition
- C09K 2323/031: Polarizer or dye
- G02B 5/30: Polarising elements (light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00)
- G02B 5/3025: {Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence)}
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A polymeric lyotropic liquid crystal solution comprises a birefringent aromatic polymer. A linear polarizer layer is obtained by shear-coating the polymeric lyotropic liquid crystal solution on a coatable substrate, and treating the resulting coating layer with a doping-passivation solution containing iodine and multi-valent cations. A linear polarizer includes a birefringent coating layer of 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness, and contains birefringent aromatic polymer, iodine anions, and multi-valent cations. An optical article includes an optical retarder layer of 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness and a linear polarizer layer of 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness, with an intermediate layer between the linear polarizer layer and the optical retarder layer. The optical retarder layer contains a first birefringent aromatic polymer generally aligned along a first alignment direction and the linear polarizer layer contains a second birefringent aromatic polymer generally aligned along a second alignment direction, with an angle between the first alignment direction and the second alignment direction in a range of 40° to 50°.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A linear polarizer, comprising:
a polymeric birefringent coating layer of 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness, comprising a birefringent aromatic polymer, iodine anions, and multi-valent cations, wherein the birefringent aromatic polymer and iodine anions cooperate to polarize light incident on the birefringent aromatic polymer and iodine anions, and the birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 25 to 10,000, or the birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 20 to 20,000.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The linear polarizer of claim 1, wherein the multi-valent cations are selected from the group consisting of: Ba2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Al3+, La3+, Ce3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Sn2+.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The linear polarizer of claim 1, wherein the birefringent aromatic polymer comprises a group (SO3−).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The linear polarizer of claim 1, wherein the polymeric birefringent coating layer has a total transmittance, averaged over 400 nm to 700 nm, of 37% or greater, and a polarization efficiency, averaged over 400 nm to 700 nm, of 96% or greater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The linear polarizer of claim 1, wherein:
the birefringent aromatic polymer is a sodium salt of a structure:
wherein n is an integer in a range from 25 to 10,000; and
the multi-valent cations are selected from the group consisting of Al3+ and Sr2+.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A circular polarizer comprising the linear polarizer of claim 1 and a quarter-wave retarder.

### Claim 7

An optical article, comprising: an optical retarder layer comprising a first birefringent aromatic polymer, the first birefringent aromatic polymer being aligned along a first alignment direction;
a linear polarizer layer of 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness, comprising a second birefringent aromatic polymer, iodine anions, and multi-valent cations, the second birefringent aromatic polymer being aligned along a second alignment direction, wherein the second birefringent aromatic polymer and iodine anions cooperate to polarize light incident on the second birefringent aromatic polymer and iodine anions, and the second birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 25 to 10,000, or the second birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 20 to 20,000; and
an intermediate layer between the linear polarizer layer and the optical retarder layer to limit ion diffusion between the linear polarizer layer and the optical retarder layer;
wherein an angle between the first alignment direction and the second alignment direction is in a range of 40° to 50°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The optical article of claim 7, wherein the optical retarder layer has an in-plane retardation in a range of 110 nm to 175 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The optical article of claim 7, wherein the intermediate layer comprises an adhesive.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The optical article of claim 7, additionally comprising a touch sensor layer, the optical retarder layer being positioned between the touch sensor layer and the linear polarizer layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The optical article of claim 7, additionally comprising an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, the optical retarder layer being positioned between the OLED panel and the linear polarizer layer.

### Claim 12

A method of forming a linear polarizer, comprising the steps of: shear-coating a polymeric lyotropic liquid crystal solution comprising a birefringent aromatic polymer on a substrate to form a polymeric birefringent coating layer, the polymeric birefringent coating layer being 1.0 micrometers or less in thickness; and treating the polymeric birefringent coating layer with a doping-passivation solution comprising iodine anions and multi-valent cations to form a linear polarizer layer, wherein the birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 25 to 10,000, or the birefringent aromatic polymer is of a structure:
or a salt thereof,
wherein n is an integer in a range from 20 to 20,000.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, additionally comprising the step of:
removing excess doping-passivation solution from the linear polarizer layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of removing excess doping-passivation solution comprises treating the linear polarizer layer with a rinse solution.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the rinse solution comprises ethanol.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the doping-passivation solution additionally comprises cations selected from the group consisting of: K+, NH4+, Li+, Na+, and Cs+.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the multi-valent cations are selected from the group consisting of: Ba2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Al3+, La3+, Ce3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Sn2+.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein:
the polymeric lyotropic liquid crystal solution comprises water;
the birefringent aromatic polymer is a sodium salt of a structure:
wherein n is an integer in a range from 25 to 10,000;
the multi-valent cations are selected from Sr2+ and Al3+; and
the doping-passivation solution additionally comprises K+ cations.