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Electrically switchable reflection gratings in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

L. V. Natarajan ,
R. L. Sutherland ,
V. P. Tondiglia ,
S. Siwecki ,
R. Pogue ,
M. Schmitt ,
D. Brandelik ,
B. Epling ,
G. Berman  and
C. Wendel
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L. V. Natarajan
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
R. L. Sutherland
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
V. P. Tondiglia
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
S. Siwecki
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
R. Pogue
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
M. Schmitt
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
D. Brandelik
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
B. Epling
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
G. Berman
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
C. Wendel
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
M. Ritter
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
M. Stallings
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation, Dayton, OH 45431
T. J. Bunning
Affiliation:
MLPJ/AFRL, WPAFB, OH 45433
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Abstract

Electrically 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.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 559: Symposium D – Liquid Crystals Materials and Devices , 1999 , 109
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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References

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