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Temperature-Tunable Heliconical and Ferroelectric Nematics for White Lasing
Alina Barbara Szukalska1, Jakub Karcz2, Jakub Herman2
1Soft Matter Optics Group, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, Wroclaw, 50-370, Poland.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 6, 2025
Summary
Researchers demonstrate temperature-tunable lasing in novel ferroelectric nematic chiral structures (NTBF phase) and ferroelectric nematic (NF) phases. This breakthrough enables compact multicolor and white lasers, advancing laser and display technologies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Nematic liquid crystals (LCs) are foundational in optoelectronics but have seen limited innovation.
- Recent discoveries include the ferroelectric nematic (NF) phase (2017) and chiral ferroelectric twist-bend nematic (NTBF) structures (2024).
- LCs serve as matrices for luminescent dyes, enabling field-controlled emission tuning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temperature-tunable lasing in the NTBF phase using commercial dyes.
- To explore the integration of NTBF and NF phases for multicolor and white laser generation.
- To introduce spontaneously formed emissive fibers from the NTBF phase and demonstrate voltage-dependent lasing intensity in the NF phase.
Main Methods:
- Doping commercial dyes into an LC mixture exhibiting the NTBF phase within 34-43.3 °C.
- Utilizing NTBF and NF phases in a single device for laser applications.
- Fabricating and characterizing spontaneously formed emissive fibers from the NTBF phase.
- Measuring voltage-dependent lasing intensity in NF phase LC cells.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated pioneering temperature-tunable lasing within the NTBF phase's low-temperature range.
- Achieved multicolor and white laser output by combining lasing characteristics of NTBF and NF phases.
- Introduced novel spontaneously formed emissive fibers from the NTBF phase.
- Observed a significant voltage-dependent increase in lasing intensity within the NF phase.
Conclusions:
- Simple molecules can form complex systems with significant optoelectronic functionalities.
- The NTBF and NF phases offer a promising platform for advanced laser and display technologies.
- Findings pave the way for applications in compact lasers, tunable displays, and Li-Fi communication.
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