Supra-nonlinear photorefractive response of single-walled carbon nanotube- and C60-doped nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

We have observed an extremely large electro-optically induced photorefractive effect in nematic liquid crystal doped with single-walled carbon nanotubes and fullerene C60. The effective refractive index change coefficient can be as large as 7 cm2/W, which is >1000 times larger than previous observations. We describe the basic mechanisms and conditions necessary for occurrence of such nonlinearities.

Carbon Nanotubes in Liquid Crystals: Fundamental Properties and Applications

“…The effect of supra-optical nonlinearity and a large electro-optically induced photorefractive effect in E7 doped by SWCNTs was reported [206,207]. It was stated that such supra-nonlinearities are promising for various holographic and image processing applications and as low-cost alternatives to conventional liquid-crystal spatial light modulators.…”

The role of surface charge field in two-beam coupling in liquid crystal cells with photoconducting polymer layers

“…In particular, the promising results 24 on liquid crystals doped with C 60 and carbon nanotubes showed "supra'' nonlinearity with n 2 Ͼ 1 cm 2 / W. In our further work, we intend to use these dopants in polymer-liquid crystal structures as well as explore functionalized forms of C 60 that show better solubility.…”

Characterization of carbon nanotube–thermotropic nematic liquid crystal composites

“…The typical density of liquid crystals is ~1 g/cm 3 , therefore the weight fraction of CNTs is ~10 -9 wt or 10 -8 wt in the case of small CNT bundles. These figures are an approximation due to assumption made of uniform distribution, and to the fact that we cannot register CNTs smaller than 0.2μm the filter pore size.…”