Abstract:
Composite materials, methods of making the composite materials, and optical devices including the composite materials are described herein. The composite materials include a chiral nematic liquid crystal and a crosslinked polymer. The composite materials form bistable liquid crystals and have a liquid crystal blue phase with a stability range greater than 60°C.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a liquid crystal blue phase from composite materials having a chiral nematic liquid crystal host and a bent-shape molecule are described. The stable temperature range of the liquid crystal blue phase may be improved by controlling the thickness of the composite materials. For example, a given composition may have a maximum stable temperature range for the liquid crystal blue phase at about 1 μm.
Abstract:
A photo-tunable liquid crystal composition may include a polymer matrix and a liquid crystal mixture dispersed within the polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture may include at least one achiral nematic liquid crystal material,at least one photo-active chiral dopant,at least one photo-inactive chiral dopant,and at least one emissive dye. The composition may be fabricated in the form of an emulsion,a wet film,or a dry film. The dry film may be used in a photo-tunable liquid crystal film laser. The output wavelength of the photo-tunable liquid crystal film laser may be tuned by exposing the dry film to illumination having at least one wavelength at one or more transition wavelengths.
Abstract:
Disclosed are polarization-independent electro-optical compositions using dichroic-dye-doped polymer stabilized optically isotropic chiral liquid crystals. The isotropic phase of such compositions can be well maintained even if the temperature is below 0 °C. The electro-optical performances of such compositions demonstrate large Kerr constants, fast response times, and large contrast ratios of the compositions. The power consumption and the cost of devices based on the compositions can be decreased substantially due to alignment-free and polarizer-free characteristics. The compositions can be used to generate low power consumption displays and other photonic devices.
Abstract:
A dual frequency liquid crystal may be stabilized in the blue phase by a polymer matrix to provide an improved blue phase temperature range having a magnitude of at least about 65℃. Polymer-stabilized, blue phase dual frequency liquid crystal compositions and methods for producing polymer-stabilized, blue phase dual frequency liquid crystals are disclosed.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a liquid crystal blue phase from composite materials comprising a chiral nematic liquid crystal host and an azobenzene-based bent-shape molecule are described. The composite materials quickly transfer from the liquid crystal blue phase to an isotropic phase under electromagnetic radiation and transfer from the isotropic phase to the liquid crystal blue phase when electromagnetic radiation is removed.