Fig. 1. Fabrication process of the patterned PDLC transparent display. (a) Injecting the PDLC precursor. (b) UV exposure. (c) Peeling off the mask.

Fig. 2. Working principle of the patterned PDLC transparent display. (a) Voltage-off state. (b) Voltage-on state with V₁. (c) Voltage-on state with V₂ and V₂ > V₁.

Fig. 3. (a) Measured V-T curves of region A and region B of the device. (b) The variation of the transmittance ratio of region A and region B with applied voltage. Insets: the morphologies of the two regions with different applied voltages under a microscope. (I) 0V_rms; (II) 17.6V_rms; (III) 40V_rms.

Fig. 4. SEM images of (a) region A and (b) region B. The droplet size distributions of (c) region A and (d) region B.

Fig. 5. Patterned PDLC transparent display is used in shutter mode as smart windows. (a) The display performance for the scenery in the distance. (b) The display performance for the graph nearby.

Fig. 6. Patterned PDLC transparent display is used in projected display mode. (a) A black card printed with a color pattern behind the device. (b) A phone screen displaying letters behind the device.

Fig. 7. Response time of region A and region B for the operating voltage of 40V_rms.