Organic polymer compounds suitable for forming positive a-type retarders and methods of production thereof

An optical film comprising:

• a substantially transparent substrate having at least one surface;
• at least one solid optical retardation layer formed on the at least one surface of the substantially transparent substrate;
• wherein the at least one solid optical retardation layer includes a polymer compound comprising n organic units having the following structural formula:
• [-(Core(L)m)k-G1-]n,
• wherein the organic units comprise rigid conjugated organic component Core capable of forming rod-like macromolecules, wherein G is a spacer selected from the group consisting of —C(O)—NR1-, —O—NR1-, linear and branched (C1-C4)alkylenes, —CR1R2-O—C(O)—CR1R2-, —C(O)—O—, —O—, and —NR1-, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• wherein S are lyophilic side-groups providing solubility to the polymer in the solvent and which are the same or different and independently selected from the group consisting of —COOX, —SO3X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, Aluminum, Lanthanide, Bismuth, and NW4, wherein W is H or alkyl or any combination thereof, —SO2NP1P2 and —CONP1P2, wherein P1 and P2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• and wherein m is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• wherein k is 1, 2, or 3;
• wherein n is in the range of about 10 to about 10,000;
• and wherein the number n provides a molecule anisotropy that promotes self-assembling of macromolecules in a solution of the polymer forming thereby a lyotropic liquid crystal;
• and
• wherein the at least one solid optical retardation layer is a solid optical retardation layer of positive A-type retarder substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectral range.

A method for producing an optical retarder, the method comprising:

• providing a polymer solution, the polymer solution comprising a solvent and a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises n organic units having the following structural formula:
• [-(Core(L)m)k-G1-]n,
• wherein the organic units comprise rigid conjugated organic component Core, wherein G is a spacer selected from the group consisting of —C(O)—NR1-, —O—NR1-, linear and branched (C1-C4)alkylenes, —CR1R2-O—C(O)—CR1R2-, —C(O)—O—, —O—, and —NR1-, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• wherein L are lyophilic side-groups providing solubility to the polymer in the solvent and which are the same or different and independently selected from the group consisting of —COOX, —SO3X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkali metal, and NW4, wherein W is H or alkyl or any combination thereof, —SO2NP1P2 and —CONP1P2, wherein P1 and P2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• and wherein m is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and wherein k is 1, 2, or 3, wherein n is in the range of about 10 to about 10,000;
• and wherein the number n provides a molecule anisotropy that promotes self-assembling of macromolecules in a solution of the polymer forming thereby a lyotropic liquid crystal;
• depositing a layer of the polymer solution on a surface of a substrate, wherein a wet thickness of the layer of the polymer solution is selected based at least in part on a desired dry thickness;
• and
• removing the solvent from the polymer solution to form a dry polymer layer of positive A-type retarder substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectral range.