Liquid crystalline gel-based photovoltaic devices

A photovoltaic device comprising an interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network,

• wherein the interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network is formed using a process comprising one step that comprises polymerizing a mixture of components with linear or lathe-shaped molecules terminated with two or more crosslinking groups in the presence of one or more non-polymerizable liquid crystalline components, wherein
• the linear or lathe-shaped molecules terminated with two or more crosslinking groups comprise flexible spacers connecting chromophoric molecular cores to each of the crosslinking groups,
• the components with linear or lathe-shaped molecules terminated with two or more crosslinking groups make up between twenty and forty percent of said mixture, and
• at least two of the components with linear or lathe-shaped molecules have the same chromophoric core and each of these components make up ten percent or less of said mixture, and
• wherein one or more subsequent steps in forming the interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network are removal of the one or more non-polymerizable liquid crystalline components from the polymerized mixture and then replacing the one or more non-polymerizable liquid crystalline components with a polymerizable material.