JPH05127155A - Liquid crystal optical element and production thereof and light control body formed by using this element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the adhesion of the surfaces of electrode materials to the cured matter of a resin contained a liquid crystal by providing overcoat layers of a compd. having a specific functional group on the electrode side surfaces of substrates with electrodes and integrating a liquid crystal resin composite. CONSTITUTION:This liquid crystal optical element is constituted by crimping the liquid crystal resin composite dispersed and held with a liquid crystal material in a resin matrix between a pair of the substrates with the electrodes. The transmission state of light is controlled by the impression state of voltages. The overcoat layer of the compd. having the functional group reactable with the functional group contained in a curable compd. forming the resin matrix and more particularly preferably the same functional group are provided on the electrode side surfaces of the substrates with the electrodes and are integrated at the time of curing the liquid crystal resin composite, by which the liquid crystal optical element is produced. As a result, the bondability of the liquid crystal resin composite and the overcoat layers is improved and peeling is hardly generated. The liquid crystal optical element having the high reliability is thus obtd. The degradation in the appearance grade of the element by intrusion of bubbles, etc., is ameliorated as well.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal optical element using a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed and held in a resin matrix, a method for producing the same, and a dimmer using the same.

[0002]

[Prior Art] Recently, HG Craighead et al. Appl.Phys.Let
As disclosed in T., 40 (1) 22 (1982), a film of a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed in a resin matrix is used to make use of the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal to form a substrate with a pair of electrodes. A liquid crystal optical element sandwiched between them is drawing attention.

Specifically, they use a liquid crystal resin composite in which a porous material is impregnated with a liquid crystal material or a liquid crystal material is enclosed in microcapsules, and the refractive index of the liquid crystal is changed depending on the presence or absence of voltage application. Then, the transmission and scattering are controlled by adjusting the refractive index of the porous body constituting the matrix and the outer wall of the microcapsule.

In addition to these, JL Fergason et al. Use a liquid crystal resin composite of nematic liquid crystal microencapsulated using polyvinyl alcohol (Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-501631).
And KN Pearlman et al., Using a liquid crystal resin composite of various latex-loaded liquid crystals (JP-A-60-252687).
No.), and JWDoane et al. (JP-B-61-502128) using a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal is dispersed and cured in an epoxy resin.
No.)

[0005]

In a liquid crystal optical element using a liquid crystal resin composite manufactured by these manufacturing methods, it is necessary to sandwich the liquid crystal resin composite between substrates with electrodes in order to apply a voltage. is there.

In order to allow light to pass through, this substrate with electrodes is coated with In or In on a substrate such as glass or transparent plastic.
_In many cases, a metal oxide such as ₂ O ₃ —SnO ₂ (ITO) or SnO ₂ or a thin film of a metal such as gold or silver is provided.

A liquid crystal optical element using a liquid crystal resin composite has a structure in which a liquid crystal or a resin which is another organic substance surrounding the liquid crystal is in direct contact with the electrodes. Therefore, unless the cured product of the resin containing the liquid crystal and these electrode materials have sufficient adhesiveness, long-term reliability deteriorates. That is, peeling occurs between a cured product of a resin containing liquid crystal and an electrode, and scattering unevenness occurs in the element surface without applying a voltage to the element, impairing the appearance, or partially when a voltage is applied. There has been a problem that the performance of the device is deteriorated because a sufficient voltage is not applied to the device.

Therefore, it is necessary to improve the adhesion between the surface of the electrode material and the cured product of the resin containing liquid crystal, prevent the appearance and characteristic defects due to peeling at the joint surface, and maintain the characteristics of the element for a long period of time. There is.

[0009]

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed and held in a resin matrix is sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes. In a liquid crystal optical element that controls the light transmission state by the voltage application state, at least a part of the electrode-side surface of at least one substrate with an electrode and a functional group contained in a curable compound forming a resin matrix, A liquid crystal optical element characterized by integrating a liquid crystal resin composite by providing an overcoat layer of a compound having a reactive functional group, and a functional group contained in a curable compound forming the resin matrix thereof. The liquid crystal optical element having the same functional group as the overcoat layer and the curable compound forming the resin matrix thereof contain a vinyl group. Bar coating layer is intended to provide a liquid crystal optical element is for containing a vinyl group.

Further, a liquid crystal optical element in which a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed and held in a resin matrix is sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes, and a light transmission state is controlled by a voltage application state is manufactured. In the method, at least a part of the electrode-side surface of at least one electrode-equipped substrate has a general formula MX _m Y _n (M is a metal atom, X is a group containing the same functional group as the functional group contained in the resin of the resin matrix, At least one of Y is a hydrolyzable group, m and n are natural numbers m +
n represents the valence of a metal), and an organometallic compound represented by the formula (4) is hydrolyzed to give a compound having a functional group capable of reacting with the functional group contained in the curable compound of the resin matrix. A method for producing a liquid crystal optical element, which comprises providing a coat layer and then supplying and curing a mixture of a liquid crystal forming a liquid crystal resin composite and a curable compound, and a curable compound forming a resin matrix thereof. A method for producing a liquid crystal optical element having a functional group contained therein and a functional group of an overcoat layer as the same group, and a curable compound forming a resin matrix contains a vinyl group, and X represents a vinyl group. The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid crystal optical element, which is a base contained, and a light control body using the liquid crystal optical element.

In the liquid crystal optical element of the present invention, a functional group reactive with the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix on the electrode-side surface of the electrode-attached substrate, particularly a compound having the same functional group A coat layer is provided.
Therefore, the adhesive force between the electrode-attached substrate and the liquid crystal resin composite is improved, and delamination is less likely to occur, resulting in improved reliability.

The electrode-equipped substrate used in the liquid crystal optical element of the present invention comprises a substrate such as glass or transparent plastic and a metal such as In ₂ O ₃ -SnO ₂ (ITO) or SnO ₂ for transmitting light. The one provided with a thin film of an oxide or a metal such as gold or silver is used. In particular, as an electrode, in order to develop a high transmittance at the time of transmitting light, ITO that is less colored on the substrate,
Thin films of metal oxides such as SnO ₂ are preferred. Alternatively, one of the electrodes may be a reflective surface such as an aluminum vapor deposition film to form a reflective scattering liquid crystal optical element.

From the viewpoint of productivity, workability, etc., it is preferable to use a transparent polymer film of polyester, polyether sulfone, polyarylate or the like for a large area liquid crystal optical element as a substrate. Glass is suitable for the liquid crystal optical element in terms of productivity, reliability, ease of use, and the like.

As a method for forming a metal oxide thin film such as ITO or a metal thin film such as aluminum on glass or a transparent polymer film, known thin film forming methods such as EB vapor deposition, sputtering, ion plating, CVD and CLD are used. You can use it.

In this case, in order to improve the adhesion between the electrode material and the substrate material, improve the reliability, and provide a coloring layer, some undercoat is formed between the electrode material and the substrate material. You may form a layer. Specifically, there are inorganic oxide layers such as SiO ₂ , SiO ₂ —TiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ and ZrO ₂ and organic material layers such as polyimide, acrylic, polyamide and urethane. Further, a pattern, a character, a function of a color filter layer, or a function of a light shielding film may be provided on this.

The compound overcoat layer formed on the electrode surface of the present invention is a functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix in order to simultaneously generate a bond when the resin containing liquid crystal is cured. An overcoat layer of a compound having a functional group reactive with is used.
Above all, an overcoat layer of a compound having the same functional group as the functional group contained in the curable compound is used because a highly reliable bond with the substrate with an electrode can be easily obtained when the curable compound is cured. Preferably.

In the present invention, it is preferable to use a resin having a vinyl group as the curable compound forming the resin matrix, and to use a compound containing a vinyl group as the overcoat layer of the compound formed on the electrode surface. Particularly, an acryl group is preferable, and a part thereof may be substituted with an alkyl group, a halogen or a cyano group.

In the present invention, an overcoat layer of a compound having a functional group reactive with the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix is used as the overcoat layer. In particular, a compound having the same functional group as the functional group contained in the curable compound is preferable.
Therefore, the compound of the overcoat layer may be a simple organic compound as long as it has a functional group reactive with the functional group contained in the curable compound.

However, in view of the adhesion of the compound formed on the electrode surface to the electrode surface of the overcoat layer, it is preferable that the compound is formed using an organometallic compound. Specifically, an organometallic compound represented by the general formula MX _m Y _n is used as a raw material. Note that M is a metal atom, X is a group containing a functional group reactive with a functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix, at least one of Y is a hydrolyzable group, and m and n are natural numbers. Where m + n represents the valence of the metal.

Various metal elements can be used as the metal atom M in the above compound, but Si, Ti, Zr, Cr and Al are preferable. In particular, structures such as Si and Ti are known as surface treatment agents such as glass as silane coupling agents and titanate coupling agents, and have good adhesiveness to glass and electrodes.

X is a group containing a functional group reactive with the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix. In particular, a group containing the same functional group as the functional group contained in the curable compound is preferable. For example, when the curable compound forming the resin matrix has a vinyl group, this X also has a vinyl group.

As the X reactive with the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix, when the curable compound has a vinyl group, X is a mercaptoalkyl group and the curable compound is In the case of an epoxy type, X is a peroxide group represented by an alkylamino group or a glycidyl group, and in the case of a urethane type curable compound, X is a hydroxyalkyl group or an isocyanate group.

As a result, when the curable compound is subsequently cured, the functional group contained in the curable compound reacts with the functional group of the overcoat layer, and the bondability between the substrate with electrodes and the resin matrix is improved. To do. The number m of the group X may be usually one. However, m ≧ 2 may be set as long as the adhesiveness to the substrate with electrode is not a problem.

At least one of Y's is a hydrolyzable group, and is usually decomposed by heating under a condition that X is hardly decomposed or does not react, or is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and is well bonded to glass and electrodes. Specifically, an alkoxy group, an acetoxy group, a halogen atom, or the like, which is decomposed by heating under a condition that X is hardly decomposed or does not react or by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, is raised. Usually, all of the groups Y may be hydrolyzable groups.

In addition, as long as the adhesiveness to the electrode-attached substrate side does not matter, a part of the group Y is another alkyl group,
It can also be a hydroxyl group, a hydrogen atom, or the like. The number n of the groups Y and the number m of the groups X are such that m + n represents the valence of the metal.

In the present invention, compounds such as trialkoxysilane and trihalogenosilane in which m = 1 and n = 3 and all Y's are hydrolyzable groups are preferable. When the curable compound forming the resin matrix has a vinyl group, one molecule such as 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-acryloxypropyltrichlorosilane, 3-acryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane is used. A compound in which an acrylic group and a silicon atom coexist is one of the most suitable for this application.

Similarly, 3-methacryloxytrimethoxysilane, 3-acryloxypropyltripropoxytitanium,
3-methacryloxytributoxytitanium and the like are also compounds suitable for this use. The present invention is not limited to these, and any compound having a functional group capable of simultaneously forming a bond when forming a liquid crystal resin composite and having good adhesiveness to the electrode surface can be used. Is also good.

As the curable compound forming the resin matrix of the liquid crystal resin composite of the present invention, a curable compound capable of forming various resins such as having a multiple bond or having a condensable group. Compounds can be used. In the present invention,
It is cured using a mixture of this curable compound and liquid crystal.
As the curable compound, a monomer, an oligomer or the like can be usually used, but a polymer having a considerably high molecular weight can also be used as long as it can be supplied in a solution form.

Among these, a vinyl group-containing compound is suitable as the curable compound forming the resin matrix of the liquid crystal resin composite of the present invention. This is because the compound containing a vinyl group can be cured without producing by-products such as water and gas during curing. In particular, those having photocurability are preferable because the particle size of the capsule or the pore size of the porous material can be easily controlled and the curing reaction is easy. When such a compound containing a vinyl group is used as the curable compound forming the resin matrix, the overcoat layer forming raw material as described above may be used.

Further, the compound containing a vinyl group can easily form a homogeneous solution with the liquid crystal without using a solvent by using a monomer or an oligomer. Since it can be supplied in a solution state without using a solvent, it can be cured even in a sealed cell or between substrates, which is also advantageous in that it can be easily manufactured.

Liquid crystal which is another raw material of the liquid crystal resin composite is
Usually, nematic liquid crystal is used, but a mixture of cholesteric component and smectic liquid crystal can also be used. In particular, a liquid crystal optical element in which a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy is used, and the ordinary refractive index (n _o ) of the liquid crystal is almost matched with the refractive index of the resin matrix, is in a scattering state without applying an electric field. , Becomes a transmissive state when an electric field is applied. When a polychromatic dye is mixed in this, a colored scattering state or a colored state is obtained without applying an electric field, and a transmissive state is obtained with an applied electric field.

The method of forming the overcoat layer of the present invention comprises:
Generally, various known forming methods for forming an overcoat layer on the surface of a substrate having electrodes of a liquid crystal display element can be used. It suffices that the overcoat layer is sufficiently bonded to the electrode-attached substrate after formation and has a functional group capable of reacting with the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix.

For example, a compound for forming an overcoat layer is added to 100 parts by weight of a water-alcohol solvent.
0.1 to 5 parts by weight Dissolved solution, substrate with electrode for several minutes
Soak for several dozen minutes. Then, the compound is adhered and formed on the electrode surface by heating and drying at 80 to 200 ° C. Further, by adding a trace amount of a catalyst such as an acid or an alkali to this solution, the sites such as alkoxysilane, alkoxytitanium, chlorosilane, and chlorotitanium are hydrolyzed to form silanol groups and titanol groups, thereby forming a substrate with an electrode. The bondability of is improved.

In the step of immersing the substrate with electrodes, other known supply methods such as a spray coating method, a spin coating method and a printing method may be used. Also, the heating and drying step may be replaced with ultraviolet irradiation or the like.

Next, this substrate is used for at least one, and preferably for both, and a mixture of liquid crystal and a curable compound for forming a liquid crystal resin composite is provided between the substrates. In the case of a cell, this supply method may be performed through an injection port, and in the case of a large substrate, the mixture may be supplied over one substrate and the other substrate may be superposed.

Then, by heating or irradiation with ultraviolet rays,
The curable compound forming the resin matrix of the liquid crystal resin composite is cured. At this time, the functional group in the overcoat layer reacts with the functional group in the curable compound to firmly bond the liquid crystal resin composite and the overcoat layer.

The liquid crystal optical element of the present invention can be used as it is for a dimmer or a display element. When it is used for a display element, the electrodes are usually patterned to display the letters of the day, dot matrix display by a set of dots, and the like. of course,
Patterning may be performed so as to simply display a specific figure or character. When used as a light control body, the electrode may be a solid electrode over the entire surface without patterning. Of course, also in this case, some electrodes may be patterned to use some kind of display such as temperature display and calendar display together.

When it is used as a light control body, it is sandwiched between two glass plates and integrated with an adhesive resin such as polybityl butyral to form a laminated glass, or two glass plates are arranged with a space therebetween. It may be arranged between glass plates to form a laminated glass. Of course, it can also be used by being attached to a glass plate, a plastic plate or the like.

[0039]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples. Example 1 1 part by weight of 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane
The solution was dissolved in 3 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol, added to 100 parts by weight of water, and the pH of the whole solution was adjusted to 5 to 6 with a slight amount of acetic acid to prepare a solution. Then, put two pieces of PET film ("A-125" manufactured by Teijin Ltd.)
After soaking for 1 minute, dry in an oven at 150 ° C for 30 minutes,
A substrate having an acrylic group on the surface of the ITO electrode was produced.

Next, 3 parts by weight of a liquid crystal (“E-8” manufactured by BDH) was dissolved in 2 parts by weight of an acrylic photopolymerizable resin, and 0.03 parts by weight of a photopolymerization initiator (“Darocur-1116” manufactured by Merck) was dissolved. Parts and 0.01 parts by weight of a 25 μm spacer (composition 1) were applied onto the substrate prepared above. Next, the other substrate prepared in the same manner was superposed on the other substrate, and a rubber roll was used so as to be sandwiched between the two substrates. Then, the liquid crystal optical element was manufactured by performing light exposure for 2 minutes with an ultraviolet irradiation device and curing.

The obtained liquid crystal optical element shows a uniform scattering state over the entire surface when no voltage is applied between the substrates.
When a voltage of 400 Hz and 100 V was applied, the entire surface became uniform and transparent. The transmittance at this time was measured with a luminous transmittance meter and found to be 70.2%. Next, after leaving the device obtained here at room temperature for 800 hours, applying a voltage of 400 Hz and 100 V and measuring the transmittance in the same manner, it was 69.9%.
Met. Also, in the state where no voltage is applied between the substrates,
Similar to the initial state, the scattering state was uniform over the entire surface.

The laminated glass plate in which this liquid crystal optical element was sandwiched between two glass plates and integrated with polybityl butyral became a laminated glass plate whose transmission and scattering could be controlled by the application of an electric field.

Example 2 1 part by weight of 3-methacryloxypropylmethyldichlorosilane was dissolved in 2 parts by weight of acetone and added to 200 parts by weight of water to prepare a solution. It is provided with SnO ₂ as an electrode
Soak one glass plate for 1 minute and then in an oven at 200 ° C.
After drying for 10 minutes, a substrate having a methacrylic group on the SnO ₂ electrode surface was prepared.

Next, using these two substrates, a glass cell in which the distance between the substrates was made constant with a minute amount of glass fiber spacers having a diameter of 20 μm and the periphery of the substrates was fixed with an adhesive was prepared, and the composition shown in Example 1 was prepared. Inject the product (composition 2) from which only the spacer was removed from the product 1 and use an ultraviolet irradiation device to
It was exposed to light for a minute and cured to manufacture a liquid crystal optical element.

The obtained device shows a uniform scattering state over the entire surface when no voltage is applied between the substrates.
When a voltage of 00 V was applied, a uniform transparent state was obtained over the entire surface, and the transmittance at this time was 65.7% as measured by a luminous transmittance meter. Next, the device obtained here
After leaving it in a constant temperature bath kept at 1,200 hours, take it out and
When the transmittance was measured in the same manner by applying a voltage of z and 100 V, it was 65.1%. Further, in the state in which no voltage was applied between the substrates, a uniform scattering state was exhibited over the entire surface as in the initial state.

Example 3 1 part by weight of 3-acryloxypropyltripropoxy titanium was dissolved in 5 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol and added to 200 parts by weight of water to prepare a solution, and a glass substrate provided with ITO as an electrode and A glass substrate provided with aluminum as an electrode was immersed for 30 minutes and then dried in an oven at 120 ° C. for 60 minutes to prepare a substrate having an acrylic group on the ITO electrode surface and a substrate having an acrylic group on the aluminum electrode surface.

Next, using these two substrates, Example 2
Prepare a glass cell in the same manner as in
2 parts by weight of liquid crystal (“ROTN4931” manufactured by Roche) was dissolved in 1 part by weight, and 0.05 part by weight of benzoin isopropyl ether as a photopolymerization initiator and 0.01 part by weight of 20 μm spacer (composition 3) were injected. A liquid crystal optical element was manufactured by performing light exposure for 3 minutes from the side where ITO was used as an electrode with an ultraviolet irradiation device and curing.

The obtained liquid crystal optical element shows a uniform scattering state over the entire surface when no voltage is applied between the substrates when viewed from the ITO electrode side. When a voltage of 50 Hz and 100 V is applied to this, a liquid crystal resin composite is obtained. The body became transparent and the entire surface was uniformly reflected by the aluminum electrode on the back surface. The reflectance at this time was measured by a reflectometer and was 61.5%.

Next, the device obtained here was left in a constant temperature bath kept at 60 ° C. for 1000 hours and then taken out, and 50 Hz, 100 V
When the reflectance was measured in the same manner by applying the voltage of 60.2,
%Met. Further, in the state where no voltage was applied between the substrates, a uniform scattering state was exhibited from the ITO electrode side as in the initial state.

Comparative Example 1 Two PE sheets were prepared by using the composition 1 shown in Example 1 in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a rubber roll was used and ITO was directly used as an electrode.
It was sandwiched between T films ("A-125" manufactured by Teijin Ltd.), exposed to light for 2 minutes by an ultraviolet irradiation device, and cured to produce a liquid crystal optical element.

The obtained liquid crystal optical element shows a uniform scattering state over the entire surface when no voltage is applied between the substrates.
When a voltage of 400 Hz and 100 V was applied, a uniform transparent state was obtained over the entire surface, and the transmittance at this time was 70.8% as measured by a luminous transmittance meter. Next, the device obtained here was left at room temperature for 800 hours in the same manner as in Example 1, and then 40
When a voltage of 0 Hz and 100 V was applied, the entire surface did not have uniform transmittance, and a portion with high transmittance and a portion with low transmittance like spots were observed.

When the transmittance was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, the high transmittance portion was 69.0%, and the low transmittance portion was
It was 30 to 36%. Even when no voltage was applied between the substrates, uneven scattering was observed in the same spots as when voltage was applied. When the spotted spots of scattering unevenness were cut perpendicularly to the device surface and the cross section was examined, the electrode surface and the liquid crystal resin composite containing liquid crystal were separated.

Comparative Example 2 Using _two glass substrates provided with SnO ₂ as electrodes as they were, a glass cell was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, the composition 2 shown in Example 2 was injected, and the glass cell was irradiated with an ultraviolet irradiation device. It was exposed to light for 2 minutes and cured to manufacture a liquid crystal optical element.

When a voltage of 50 Hz and 100 V was applied to this, a uniform transparent state was obtained over the entire surface, and the transmittance at this time was 65.4% as measured by a luminous transmittance meter. Next, the device obtained here was placed in a constant temperature bath kept at 60 ° C for 1200
After leaving it for a period of time, it was taken out and the transmittance was measured in the same manner by applying a voltage of 50 Hz and 100 V. The entire surface did not become a uniform transparent state, and there were areas with high transmittance and spots with low transmittance. I was seen.

When the transmittance was measured in the same manner as in Example 2, the high transmittance portion had a transmittance of 65.1%, and the low transmittance portion had a transmittance of 26 to 32%. Even when no voltage was applied between the substrates, uneven scattering was observed in the same spots as when voltage was applied. When the spotted spots of scattering unevenness were cut perpendicularly to the device surface and the cross section was examined, the electrode surface and the liquid crystal resin composite containing liquid crystal were separated.

Comparative Example 3 Glass having ITO as an electrode and glass having aluminum as an electrode are used as they are as a substrate,
A glass cell was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, and the composition 3 shown in Example 3 was injected and exposed to light for 3 minutes from the side where ITO was used as an electrode with an ultraviolet irradiation device to cure the liquid crystal optical element. Manufactured.

The obtained liquid crystal optical element showed a uniform scattering state when viewed from the ITO electrode side when no voltage was applied between the substrates, and when a voltage of 50 Hz and 100 V was applied thereto, it contained a liquid crystal. The liquid crystal resin composite became transparent, and the entire surface was uniformly reflected by the aluminum electrode on the back surface. When the reflectance at this time was measured with a reflectometer, it was 60.2%.
Met.

Next, the device obtained here was left in a constant temperature bath kept at 60 ° C. for 1000 hours and then taken out, and 50 Hz, 100 V
When the reflectance was measured in the same manner by applying the above voltage, the entire surface was not in a uniform reflection state, and a portion with high reflectance and a spot-like portion with low reflectance were seen. When the reflectance was measured in the same manner as in Example 3, the reflectance of the high reflectance portion was 58.7.
%, And 21 to 27% in the low reflectance part.

Even when no voltage was applied between the substrates, uneven scattering was observed in the same spots as when voltage was applied.
When the spotted spots of scattering unevenness were cut perpendicularly to the device surface and the cross section was examined, the electrode surface and the liquid crystal resin composite containing liquid crystal were separated.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if it is used for a long period of time, the appearance of the liquid crystal optical element and the characteristic failure of the liquid crystal optical element due to the peeling of the interface between the electrode material and the liquid crystal resin composite containing the liquid crystal are hardly caused. A high liquid crystal optical element is provided. For this purpose, at least a part of the electrode-side surface of at least one electrode-attached substrate is provided with an overcoat layer of a compound having a functional group capable of reacting with a functional group contained in a curable compound forming a resin matrix, The liquid crystal resin composite is integrated. Thereby, the bondability between the liquid crystal resin composite and the overcoat layer is improved, peeling hardly occurs, and a liquid crystal optical element having a long life and high reliability can be obtained.

Further, by making the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix the same as the functional group of the overcoat layer, the liquid crystal and the curable compound are separated between the two substrates with electrodes. When sandwiching the mixture, the surface tension of the electrode surface and the mixture containing the liquid crystal are close to each other to improve the wettability, so that the deterioration of the appearance quality of the element due to the inclusion of bubbles can be improved.

The liquid crystal optical element of the present invention is an element excellent in appearance quality and reliability, and can be widely used for light control, display, optical shutter and the like in a large area, and can be used for a light control window and a light control mirror. ,
Various applications such as decorative windows, large public displays, and partitions are possible. In addition, various applications are possible within a range that does not impair the effects of the present invention.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal optical element in which a liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed and held in a resin matrix is sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes, and a light transmission state is controlled by a voltage application state, At least a part of the electrode-side surface of at least one electrode-attached substrate is provided with an overcoat layer of a compound having a functional group capable of reacting with a functional group contained in an uncured compound forming a resin matrix, thereby forming a liquid crystal resin composite. Liquid crystal optical element characterized by integrating 2. The liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, wherein the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix and the functional group of the overcoat layer are the same group. 3. The liquid crystal optical element according to claim 2, wherein the curable compound forming the resin matrix contains a vinyl group, and the overcoat layer contains a vinyl group. 4. A liquid crystal optical element comprising a liquid crystal resin composite, in which a liquid crystal substance is dispersed and held in a resin matrix, sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes, and controlling a light transmission state by a voltage application state. In the method, at least a part of the electrode-side surface of the substrate with at least one electrode has the general formula MX
_m Y _n (M is a metal atom, X is a group containing the same functional group as the functional group contained in the resin of the resin matrix, at least 1 of Y
One is a hydrolyzable group, m and n are natural numbers, and m + n represents the valence of the metal), and an organometallic compound represented by the formula is hydrolyzed to be contained in the curable compound of the resin matrix. Of a compound having a functional group capable of reacting with a functional group, and then supplying a mixture of a liquid crystal forming a liquid crystal resin composite and a curable compound to cure the liquid crystal optical element. Method. 5. The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 4, wherein the functional group contained in the curable compound forming the resin matrix and the functional group of the overcoat layer are the same group. 6. The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 5, wherein the curable compound forming the resin matrix contains a vinyl group, and X is a group containing a vinyl group. 7. A light control body using the liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1. Description: