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An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation
Published on: February 27, 2019
Optically-tunable beam steering grating based n azobenzene doped cholesteric liquid crystal
Hung-Chang Jau1, Tsung-Hsien Lin, Ri-Xin Fung
1Institute of Electro-optic Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Optics Express
|August 20, 2010
Summary
This study presents an optically controlled beam-steering device using cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with azobenzene. Light-induced molecular changes enable precise, rapid beam steering with a significant angle.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
- Photonics
Background:
- Optically controllable beam steering is crucial for advanced photonic systems.
- Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) offer tunable optical properties.
- Azobenzene's photoisomerization provides a mechanism for light-induced material changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an optically controllable beam-steering device.
- To investigate the use of azobenzene-doped CLCs for beam steering.
- To combine optical and electrical tuning for enhanced performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a beam-steering device using azobenzene-doped CLCs.
- Utilizing UV and green light to induce trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene.
- Modifying the pitch of the CLC fingerprint structure via photoisomerization.
- Integrating electrical tuning with optical control.
Main Results:
- Azobenzene photoisomerization was shown to alter the CLC pitch and diffraction angle.
- UV light increased the diffraction angle, while green light restored it.
- A combined optical and electrical tuning approach achieved a steering angle of approximately 19 degrees.
- Continuous tuning was demonstrated within a few seconds.
Conclusions:
- Azobenzene-doped CLCs are effective for optically controllable beam steering.
- The proposed device offers a significant steering range with rapid, continuous tuning.
- This technology holds promise for applications in optical communication and display technologies.
