Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
10:33
An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation
Published on: February 27, 2019
High speed liquid crystal over silicon display based on the flexoelectro-optic effect.
Jing Chen1, Stephen M Morris, Timothy D Wilkinson
1Centre of Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics, Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Optics Express
|April 29, 2009
Summary
Researchers developed a novel flexoelectric on silicon device using chiral nematic liquid crystals. This technology achieves multi-level phase modulation with fast response times, enabling advanced holographic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Display Technology
Background:
- Liquid Crystal over Silicon (LCOS) microdisplays are evolving.
- Traditional LCOS devices use intensity modulation.
- Multi-level phase modulation is crucial for advanced applications like holographic projectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an alternative LCOS device geometry.
- To leverage the flexoelectric-optic effect in chiral nematic liquid crystals.
- To achieve multi-level phase shift with fast response times.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a flexoelectric-optic effect in a chiral nematic liquid crystal.
- Designed an alternative device geometry for LCOS.
- Verified performance using phase shift interferometry on an LCOS test device.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a device capable of multi-level phase shift.
- Achieved response times under 100 microseconds.
- Verified the flexoelectric-on-silicon device's capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The flexoelectric-on-silicon device offers remarkable characteristics for display technology.
- This technology enables the next generation of holographic devices.
- Fast multi-level phase modulation is now achievable with LCOS.
