Polymer network liquid crystal materials have improved mechanical properties such as rigidity and hardness and substantially improved electro-optical performance. The PNLC material can be manufactured with an emulsion process so as to simplify substantially the manufacturing process. Each LC droplet can be configured with the polymer network extending substantially across the LC droplet, and the polymer network may comprise a material to lower substantially the switching voltage, such as a fluorinated acrylate that may interact with the liquid crystal so as to lower the surface tension of the LC droplet. The PNLC material may comprise an interfacial layer combined with the polymer network so as to decrease substantially the driving voltage.