scholarly journals Holographic Characteristics of Photopolymers Containing Different Mixtures of Nematic Liquid Crystals

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Fenoll ◽  
Francisco Brocal ◽  
José David Segura ◽  
Manuel Ortuño ◽  
Augusto Beléndez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Diffraction Efficiency ◽  
Applied Voltage ◽  
Nematic Liquid Crystals ◽  
Variable Electric Field ◽  
Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal ◽  
Polymer Dispersed

A holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) is used to record holographic diffraction gratings. Several mixtures of nematic liquid crystals (LC) are used as components of the HPDLC to evaluate their influence in static and dynamic basic properties. The diffraction efficiency obtained in the reconstruction of the holograms is evaluated to compare the influence of the different LC. Additionally, the samples are exposed to a variable electric field and the diffracted light intensity as a function of the applied voltage is measured to evaluate the influence of the LC. The results obtained show significant differences depending on the LC incorporated to the photopolymer.

scholarly journals Polymer Dispersed Cholesteric Liquid Crystals With a Toroidal Director Configuration under an Electric Field

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Anna P. Gardymova ◽  
Mikhail N. Krakhalev ◽  
Victor Ya. Zyryanov ◽  
Alexandra A. Gruzdenko ◽  
Andrey A. Alekseev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Point Defects ◽  
Structural Response ◽  
Optical Filters ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal ◽  
Dichroic Dye ◽  
Polymer Dispersed

The electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films are highly dependent on the features of the contained liquid crystal (LC) droplets. Cholesteric LC droplets with homeotropic boundaries can form several topologically different orientational structures, including ones with single and more point defects, layer-like, and axisymmetric twisted toroidal structures. These structures are very sensitive to an applied electric field. In this work, we have demonstrated experimentally and by computer simulations that twisted toroidal droplets reveal strong structural response to the electric field. In turn, this leads to vivid changes in the optical texture in crossed polarizers. The response of droplets of different sizes were found to be equivalent in terms of dimensionless parameters. In addition, the explanation of this phenomenon showed a comparison of theoretical and experimental structural response curves aids to determine the shape of the droplet. Finally, we demonstrated that the addition of a dichroic dye allows such films to be used as optical filters with adjustable color even without polarizers.

scholarly journals Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals: Materials, Formation, and Applications

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Liu ◽  
X. W. Sun
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Refractive Index Profile ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Fast Switching ◽  
Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal ◽  
Current State ◽  
Index Matching ◽  
Polymer Dispersed ◽  
Materials Used

By combining polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and holography, holographic PDLC (H-PDLC) has emerged as a new composite material for switchable or tunable optical devices. Generally, H-PDLC structures are created in a liquid crystal cell filled with polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials by recording the interference pattern generated by two or more coherent laser beams which is a fast and single-step fabrication. With a relatively ideal phase separation between liquid crystals and polymers, periodic refractive index profile is formed in the cell and thus light can be diffracted. Under a suitable electric field, the light diffraction behavior disappears due to the index matching between liquid crystals and polymers. H-PDLCs show a fast switching time due to the small size of the liquid crystal droplets. So far, H-PDLCs have been applied in many promising applications in photonics, such as flat panel displays, switchable gratings, switchable lasers, switchable microlenses, and switchable photonic crystals. In this paper, we review the current state-of-the-art of H-PDLCs including the materials used to date, the grating formation dynamics and simulations, the optimization of electro-optical properties, the photonic applications, and the issues existed in H-PDLCs.

Nano-Sized Fine Droplets of Liquid Crystals for Optical Application

1996 ◽  
Vol 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiro Matsumoto ◽  
Marthe Houlbert ◽  
Takayoshi Hayashi ◽  
Ken-ichi Kubodera
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Applied Voltage ◽  
Applied Electric Field ◽  
Uv Curing ◽  
Infrared Region ◽  
High Transparency ◽  
Power Change

ABSTRACTNano-sized fine droplets of liquid crystal (LC) were obtained by phase separation of nematic LC in UV curing polymer. The polymer composite had a high transparency in the infrared region. The fine droplets responded to an electric field causing a change in birefringence. Output power change was brought about by the generated retardation between two polarizations, parallel and perpendicular to the applied electric field. This differs from the composite containing much larger droplets, where output depends on the degree of scattering. The birefringence changed by 0.001 at the applied voltage of 7.5 V/μm.

Electrically switchable reflection gratings in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

1999 ◽  
Vol 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. V. Natarajan ◽  
R. L. Sutherland ◽  
V. P. Tondiglia ◽  
S. Siwecki ◽  
R. Pogue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Blue Shift ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Acrylate Monomer ◽  
Polymer Dispersed ◽  
Reflection Gratings ◽  
Grating Formation

ABSTRACTElectrically switchable volume reflection holograms were written by inhomogeneous illumination of a prepolymer syrup containing a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional acrylate monomer. Switchable holograms are diffractive optics structures and the diffraction efficiency can be controlled by the application of an electric field. Reflection gratings with grating spacing varying between 0.16-0.27 µm were made during the phase separation of liquid crystals from the fast curing prepolymer syrup. The reflection efficiency of the holograms were electrically modulated with the applied field of ∼10-15V/µm. Real time study of the grating formation revealed that the maximum efficiency is reached in ∼15 seconds. The shrinkage of the host polymer during grating formation resulted in the blue shift of the reflection notch. The response time of the grating in an electric field is ∼50 µs. Low voltage scanning electron microscope studies showed the presence of discrete nematic droplet domains of sizes 30-60 nm in liquid crystal rich region.

scholarly journals Accurate, Efficient and Rigorous Numerical Analysis of 3D H-PDLC Gratings

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3725
Author(s):  
Jorge Francés ◽  
Sergio Bleda ◽  
Daniel Puerto ◽  
Sergi Gallego ◽  
Andrés Márquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Fdtd Method ◽  
Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal ◽  
Optical Media ◽  
Polymer Dispersed ◽  
3D Numerical Modelling ◽  
Anchoring Strength ◽  
Split Field

This work presents recent results derived from the rigorous modelling of holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) gratings. More precisely, the diffractive properties of transmission gratings are the focus of this research. This work extends previous analysis performed by the authors but includes new features and approaches. More precisely, full 3D numerical modelling was carried out in all analyses. Each H-PDLC sample was generated randomly by a set of ellipsoid geometry-based LC droplets. The liquid crystal (LC) director inside each droplet was computed by the minimisation of the Frank elastic free energy as a function of the applied electric field. The analysis carried out considered the effects of Frank elastic constants K11, K22 and K33; the anchoring strength W0; and even the saddle-splay constant K24. The external electric field induced an orientation of the LC director, modifying the optical anisotropy of the optical media. This effect was analysed using the 3D split-field finite-difference time-domain (SF-FDTD) method. In order to reduce the computational costs due to a full 3D tensorial analysis, a highly optimised method for high-performance computing solutions (HPC) was developed. The influences of the anchoring and voltage on the diffraction efficiencies were investigated, showing the potential of this approach.

Measurement of elastic constants of nematic liquid crystals with use of hybrid in-plane-switched cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Nowinowski-Kruszelnicki ◽  
J. Kędzierski ◽  
Z. Raszewski ◽  
L. Jaroszewicz ◽  
M. Kojdecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Elastic Constants ◽  
Nematic Liquid Crystals ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
New Method ◽  
Dielectric Anisotropy ◽  
Main Concept

AbstractA new method for quick and pretty accurate measurements of splay, twist and bend elastic constants of nematic liquid crystals is experimentally verified. The main concept relies on exploiting only the electric field and determining magnitudes of nematic elastic constants from threshold fields for Freedericksz transitions in only one hybrid in-plane-switched cell. In such cell the deformations of an investigated liquid crystal are controlled by three separated pairs of electrodes confining measurement domains. In two of them inter-digital electrodes are mounted on one cell cover. Splay, twist and bend elastic constants can be measured by a proper choice of electrodes’ configuration together with orienting cover coatings (without applying magnetic fields). In this paper, we describe layout of our cells and results of experimental tests by using different liquid crystals: 5CB and 6CHBT (with positive dielectric anisotropy), Demus’ esters (with negative dielectric anisotropy) and new liquid crystals mixtures produced in our university.

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