Phase-only modulation by nanosized polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

Abstract

We report the preparation methods and electro-optical characterization of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals with nanosized liquid crystal domains obtained by using a multifunctional monomer in a prepolymer mixture that is suitable for a fast photopolymerization process. The electric-field-induced optical phase shift has been measured using a Mach–Zender interferometer, getting values up to π/2 with an applied voltage of about 20 V/μm with no dependence on the light polarization. The high transmittance of the samples make them suitable for photonic devices and telecom applications.

POLICRYPS: A Multipurpose, Application-Oriented Platform

“…This allowed low scattering losses and higher diffraction efficiencies. 9 Unfortunately, some new issues emerged: indeed, the smaller the size of droplets, the higher their surface tension. This corresponds to an increase of the required switching voltages thus limiting the possibility of developing commercial, switchable holographic elements.…”

The investigation of molecular affinity involved in poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymer-dispersed liquid crystal display

“…The LCrich regions of such films are composed of randomly oriented micrometer-size droplets whose size depends on a number of factors such as monomer functionality, film composition, UV curing intensity, duration of irradiation, and curing temperature [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. A considerable number of studies have been done on the morphology and electro-optic properties of PDLC films by varying such factors [17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

High Performance Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Systems Formed with the Siloxane-containing Derivatives and Their Applications on Electro-optics

“…Much attentions have been attracted to HPDLC systems due to their unique switching property in electric field to make them applicable to information displays, optical shutters, and information storage media [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Many research groups have made efforts to realize useful recording materials for high performance holographic gratings [16][17][18]. Photo-polymerizable materials, typically multifunctional acrylates, epoxy, and thiol-ene derivatives have been mostly studied because of their advantages of optical transparency, large refractive index modulation, low cost, and easy fabrication and modification [19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

“…Many research groups have made efforts to realize useful recording materials for high performance holographic gratings [16][17][18]. Photo-polymerizable materials, typically multifunctional acrylates, epoxy, and thiol-ene derivatives have been mostly studied because of their advantages of optical transparency, large refractive index modulation, low cost, and easy fabrication and modification [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. T.J. Bunning group has reported investigation that the correlation between polymerization kinetics, LC phase separation, and polymer gel point in examining thiol-ene HPDLC formulations to enable more complete understanding of the formation of thiol-ene HPDLCs [26].…”