Optical devices with functional molecules

A method of making an optical device, comprising:

• depositing on a substrate a reflector layer;
• depositing on a surface of the reflector layer a selective light modulator layer, wherein the selective light modulator layer includes a host material that is an organic polymer;
• and
• providing functional molecules in at least one of the selective light modulator layer, in an optional functional layer on the selective light modulator layer, or in an optional functional layer on the reflector layer;
• wherein the functional molecules include at least one group chosen from electric charge dissipation groups;
• coating bonding groups;
• and adhesion enhancing groups,
• wherein the electric charge dissipation groups are chosen from polyols, phosphoric acid, pyridinum salts, polyethylene glycols, phenols, carbon nanotubes, indium oxide, conductive polymers and combinations thereof;
• wherein the coating bonding groups are chosen from vinyl, epoxy, urethane, polyols, phenols, thiols, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the adhesion enhancing groups are chosen from siloxanes, polyols, phosphoric acids, anhydrides, acyl halides, and combinations thereof;
• wherein a layer of the optical device is not included on at least two sides of the reflector layer;
• wherein if the electric charge dissipation groups or the adhesion enhancing groups are phosphoric acids, functional molecules including the phosphoric acid groups also include an acrylate functional group;
• and
• wherein the optical device is a flake having a thickness chosen from a range of 100 nm to 100 μm and a size chosen from a range of 100 nm to 1 mm in size;
• and wherein the selective light modulator layer and, if present, the optional functional layer on the selective light modulator layer or the optional functional layer on the reflector layer, has an optical thickness variation of less than 5%.

An optical device, comprising:

• a reflector layer;
• a selective light modulator layer on the reflector layer, wherein the selective light modulator layer includes a host material that is an organic polymer;
• and
• functional molecules present in the selective light modulator layer;
• wherein the functional molecules include at least one group chosen from electric charge dissipation groups;
• coating bonding groups;
• and adhesion enhancing groups,
• wherein the electric charge dissipation groups are chosen from polyols, phosphoric acid, pyridinum salts, polyethylene glycols, phenols, carbon nanotubes, indium oxide, conductive polymers and combinations thereof;
• wherein the coating bonding groups are chosen from vinyl, epoxy, urethane, polyols, phenols, carboxylic acids, thiols, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the adhesion enhancing groups are chosen from siloxanes, polyols, phosphoric acids, anhydrides, acyl halides, and combinations thereof;
• wherein a layer of the optical device is not included on at least two sides of the reflector layer;
• wherein if the electric charge dissipation groups or the adhesion enhancing groups are phosphoric acids, functional molecules including the phosphoric acid groups also include an acrylate functional group;
• and
• wherein the optical device is a flake having a thickness chosen from a range of 100 nm to 100 μm and a size chosen from a range of 100 nm to 1 mm in size;
• and wherein the selective light modulator layer has an optical thickness variation of less than 5%.