A novel display device combining a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film and a thin-film electroluminescent (TFEL) device was fabricated. This device may be used as a liquid crystal display (LCD) in strong light ambient. In the dark, it can be switched to become an electroluminescent display, providing high viewability. Measurements of its electrooptical characteristics showed that the breakdown voltage of the TFEL device did not change significantly with the addition of a LC layer. It implies that the cured polymer could provide an intrinsic barrier preventing LC material from diffusing into the TFEL device.
