1D/2D switchable grating based on polymer- stabilized liquid crystal realized via two-step exposure

A 1D/2D switchable grating based on polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) is proposed using a two-step exposure method. The first exposure anchors the tilt angle of liquid crystal (LC) molecules via the polymer network, forming a 1D grating in the absence of an electric field. The second exposure modulates the threshold voltage of LCs through the polymer, and a phase difference is generated between the exposed region and the unexposed region under an external field, thus forming a 2D grating. The device features low driving voltage (1 V), fast response, high diffraction efficiency, no scattering, and low cost. Moreover, the gratings corresponding to the two exposures are independent and non-interfering, and diverse diffraction patterns can be flexibly constructed by adjusting the period and stripe orientation of the two gratings, showing great potential in photonic applications.