Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal lens for electro-optical zoom

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) are two typical liquid crystal (LC)/polymer composites. PDLCs are usually prepared by dispersing LC droplets in a polymer matrix, while PSLC is a system in which the alignment of LC molecules is stabilized by interactions between the polymer network and the LC molecules. In this study, a new material system is promoted to construct a coexistence system of PDLC and PSLC, namely PD&SChLC. In this new material system, a liquid-crystalline vinyl-ether monomer (LVM) was introduced to a mixture containing cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLC) and isotropic acrylate monomer (IAM). Based on the different reaction rates between LVM and IAM, the PD&SChLC architecture was built using a stepwise UV-initiated polymerization. During the preparation of the PDS&ChLC films, first, the mixture was irradiated with UV light for a short period of time to induce the free radical polymerization of IAMs, forming a phase-separated microstructure, PDLC. Subsequently, an electric filed was applied to the sample for long enough to induce the cationic polymerization of LVMs, forming the homeotropically-aligned polymer fibers within the ChLC domains, which are similar to those in a PSLC. Based on this stepwise UV-initiated radical/cationic polymerization, a PD&SChLC film with the advantages of a relatively low driving voltage, a fast response time, and a large-area processability is successful prepared. The film can be widely used in flexible displays, smart windows, and other optical devices.

Electrically induced coloration of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal films with broadband reflection capability for smart windows

Epoxy resin-based polymer-wall stabilized liquid crystal films with low driving voltages and improved mechanical performance for smart window applications

Low-voltage electrochromic behaviour of polymer-stabilised liquid crystal with considerable broadband reflection

Polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs) are materials composed of a polymer mesh in a continuous phase of liquid crystal. The polymer mesh provides an anchor point for alignment of the liquid crystalline bulk. The macroscopic extent of order in such systems depends on the order parameter of the liquid crystal (given by the temperature) and the domain order parameter, induced by external stimuli, such as (rubbed) substrates or magnetic or electric fields. We studied thick PSLCs where substrate interactions cannot be employed and used magnetic fields instead. We show how the polymerization conditions, i.e., the temperature and the magnetic field, influence the overall order parameter in 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB)-based PSLCs. Optimal macroscopic alignment was obtained in samples polymerized at room temperature and at magnetic fields in excess of 5 T. The effect of mesh network can be quantified by introducing a phenomenological constant, which is correlated to the order parameter at the polymerizatio...

Low-voltage polymer-stabilised liquid crystal windows with highly polar molecules for privacy and thermal comfort

Secondary electro-optic response induced by VOD875S dye in polymer stabilised liquid crystals

Nonlinear optics (NLO) has attracted much attention for its immense potential in applications. However, it typically requires very high light intensities. Recently, we reported that polymer stabilization efficiently enhances the self-focusing effect for dye-doped liquid crystals (LCs). Here we studied the effect of polymer concentration on self-focusing in the dye-doped polymer-stabilized LC (PSLC). Oligothiophene (TR5)-doped PSLCs with different polymer concentrations were prepared, and self-diffraction ring measurement was performed. As polymer concentration increased, the threshold light intensity for self-focusing effect first decreased then slightly increased. The lowest threshold light intensity of 3.4 W/cm2 was obtained at 10 mol%. Polymer stabilization of the LCs decreased the threshold intensity by a factor of 7. We also discussed the possible mechanism for the polymer concentration dependence of NLO response in the TR5-doped PSLC.

Fabrication of photomobile polymer materials with phase-separated structure of crosslinked azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymer and poly(dimethylsiloxane)

Polymer Stabilised Liquid Crystal (PSLC) devices contain a polymer network (PN) formed from a liquid crystal host containing a low concentration of reactive liquid crystalline monomers. If a strongly UV absorbing liquid crystal is used, the UV intensity profile during polymerisation creates a non-uniformity in the polymerisation process and the final polymer distribution across the cell [1]. A theoretical model of the polymerisation process of the reactive mesogen molecules is presented which takes into account the UV intensity profile, the rate of polymerisation and molecular diffusion. The PN distribution has been calculated using realistic reaction parameters, diffusion constants and UV absorption coefficients for both a UV absorbing (E7) and a non-absorbing (ML1001) liquid crystal. SEM observations and optical microscopy were carried out and are found to support the numerical predictions.

Fast-response and high figure of merit phase shifter based on polymer- stabilised liquid crystals

Nematic liquid crystal (LC)-based beam steering has been reported for wide applications. However, for conventional nematic LC beam steering the thickness is of several microns in order to have a wider deflection angle. The response time is relatively slow and the diffraction efficiency is low. In this work, novel beam steering based on polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (PS-BPLC) has been designed and theoretically analyzed. This special mesophase of the chiral doped nematic LC has several advantageous characteristics, for example no need for alignment layers, microsecond response time and an isotropic voltage-off state. The results reveal control over phase retardation. The direction of the steered beam can be tuned by voltage. Depending on voltage configuration, either diffractive beam steering (0.5deg deviation for 1st order) or a tunable continuous phase (tunable deviation of 0.002deg) can be obtained. In the first case, the deflection angle could be tuned by stacks of samples. The second option has the same phase shift for the TE and TM modes so unpolarized light could be used. Full Text: PDF ReferencesF. Feng, I. White, T. Wilkinson, "Free Space Communications With Beam Steering a Two-Electrode Tapered Laser Diode Using Liquid-Crystal SLM", J. Lightwave Technol. 31, 2001 (2013). CrossRef E. Oton, J. Perez-Fernandez, D. Lopez-Molina, X. Quintana, J.M. Oton, M.A. Geday, "Reliability of Liquid Crystals in Space Photonics", IEEE Photonics Journal 7, 1 (2015). CrossRef J. Stockley, S. Serati, "Multi-access laser terminal using liquid crystal beam steering", IEEE in Aerospace Conference, 1972 (2005). CrossRef D. Zografopoulos and E. Kriezis, "Switchable beam steering with zenithal bistable liquid-crystal blazed gratings", Opt. Lett. 39, 5842 (2014). CrossRef Benedikt Scherger, et al., "Discrete Terahertz Beam Steering with an Electrically Controlled Liquid Crystal Device", J. Infrared. Millim. Terahertz Waves 33, 1117 (2012). CrossRef M.A. Geday, X. Quintana, E. Otón, B. Cerrolaza, D. Lopez, F. Garcia de Quiro, I. Manolis, A. Short, Proc. ICSO, Rhodes, Greece, pp. 1-4 (2010). CrossRef Y. Chen, S.-T. Wu, "The outlook for blue-phase LCDs", Proc. SPIE 9005, Advances in Display Technologies IV, 900508 (2014). CrossRef G.D. Love, A.F. Naumov, "Modal liquid crystal lenses", Liq. Cryst. Today 10, 1 (2000). CrossRef V. Urruchi, J.F. Algorri, J.M. Sánchez-Pena, M.A. Geday, X. Quintana, N. Bennis, "Lenticular Arrays Based on Liquid Crystals", Opto-Electron. Rev. 20, 38 (2012). CrossRef J.F. Algorri, G. Love, and V. Urruchi, "Modal liquid crystal array of optical elements", Opt. Express 21, 24809 (2013). CrossRef J.F. Algorri, V. Urruchi, N. Bennis, J. Sánchez-Pena, "Modal liquid crystal microaxicon array", Opt. Lett. 39, 3476 (2014). CrossRef J.F. Algorri, V. Urruchi, B. Garcia-Camara, J.M. Sánchez-Pena, "Generation of Optical Vortices by an Ideal Liquid Crystal Spiral Phase Plate", IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett. 35, 856 (2014). CrossRef D. Xu, Y. Chen, Y. Liu, S. Wu, "Refraction effect in an in-plane-switching blue phase liquid crystal cell", Opt. Express 21, 24721 (2013). CrossRef Z. Ge, S. Gauza, M. Jiao, H. Xianyu, S.T. Wu, "Electro-optics of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal displays", Appl. Phys. Lett. 94 101104 (2009). CrossRef J. Yan et al., "Extended Kerr effect of polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystals", Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 071105 (2010). CrossRef X. Wang, D. Wilson, R. Muller, P. Maker, D. Psaltis, "Liquid-crystal blazed-grating beam deflector, Appl. Opt. 39, 6545 (2000). CrossRef

Sinusoidal electric fields are applied to liquid crystals (LCs) across various frequencies ranging from 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz to investigate the oscillatory behavior of LC directors. In a 1.5 μm thick 5CB cell, a significant decline in refractive index change occurs in the frequency range greater than 10 Hz, in which the LC director cannot sufficiently follow the rapid fluctuations in field intensity. To evaluate the response speed of the LCs under sinusoidal electric fields, the cutoff frequency is introduced as a response indicator. Enhancement of the cutoff frequency can be achieved through conventional fast response techniques such as polymer-stabilized LCs.

In this study, we report the improved response time of a thick nematic liquid crystal (LC) device by using an electrospun nanofiber (NF). We investigated the influence of NF characteristics including polymer material, NF volume ratio, and diameter, on the electrical characteristic of the NF/LC composite. A conventional LC device and a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) device were fabricated to compare their electrical characteristics with those of the NF/LC composite. The rise time, decay time, and threshold voltage of these LC devices are determined by measuring the dielectric permittivity. In comparison with the conventional LC device, the decay time of the NF/LC device is significantly improved. Compared with the PSLC device with the same thickness, the NF/LC device shows a lower threshold voltage while exhibiting the same decay time. Finally, we demonstrated the markedly improved response time of a THz phase shifter by using an NF/LC composite.

Polymer stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) devices modulating the light that goes through them have broad applications. In this study, to improve the electro-optical properties of a PSLC device, Ag nanowires with diameter about 20 nm were doped into PSLC active layer with different concentrations. The influence of Ag nanowires concentration on the driving voltage, on-state response time and frequency modulation characteristics of a PSLC device were studied. The results indicate that the doping of Ag nanowires can reduce the driving voltage of PSLC cell up to 42%. The response time of the PSLC cell can decrease by about 41%. Meanwhile, frequency modulation does not show significant improvement upon Ag nanowire doping. Overall, Ag nanowire doping can improve the electro-optical properties of PSLC device effectively.