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An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation
Published on: February 27, 2019
Microfluidic fabrication of cholesteric liquid crystal core-shell structures toward magnetically transportable
Lu-Jian Chen1, Ling-Li Gong2, Ya-Li Lin2
1Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Information Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China. lujianchen@xmu.edu.cn and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, PR China.
We developed magnetically transportable microlasers using cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) core-shell structures. These novel devices enable non-invasive manipulation and offer potential for in-channel illumination applications.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) are known for their tunable optical properties.
- Microfluidic techniques enable precise fabrication of complex microstructures.
- Magnetic nanoparticles offer possibilities for remote manipulation of micro-devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop magnetically transportable microlasers with a CLC core-shell structure.
- To investigate the influence of temperature and shell thickness on laser properties.
- To demonstrate non-invasive manipulation and analyze transport dynamics of these microlasers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of dye-doped CLC shells using a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion via microfluidics.
- Incorporation of water-dispersible Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles into the inner aqueous phase.
- Characterization of laser properties (band-edge mode) and investigation of temperature and shell thickness effects.
- Theoretical analysis and experimental study of microlaser velocity dependence on fluid viscosity and size using an electromagnetic platform.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of magnetically transportable microlasers with CLC core-shell structures.
- Demonstrated band-edge mode operation of the microlasers.
- Observed influence of temperature and shell thickness on laser performance.
- Achieved non-invasive manipulation of microlasers using an external magnetic field.
- Validated theoretical predictions for microlaser velocity in different fluids and sizes.
Conclusions:
- Magnetically transportable CLC core-shell microlasers are feasible and controllable.
- These microlasers show promise for in-channel illumination applications requiring active control.
- The study provides design principles for similar core-shell structures.
